Alex Smalley has a two-stroke lead going into the final round of the PGA Championship

The American signed for an adventurous 68 thanks to a superlative back nine around Aronimink Golf Club, taking him to six under for the tournament, two ahead of a chasing pack that includes Jon Rahm and 
Ludwig Aberg.

But it certainly wasn't easy for Smalley. He was staring at a score of four over after six holes when he was standing over a 15-foot par putt on the sixth green, which he sank to stop the rot. Smalley went birdie-bogey after that, then had a hot streak of five birdies over the next seven holes. He bogeyed the par three 17th, but drained a 14-footer for birdie on the last to finish top.

Smalley has never won on tour and this is only his fifth ever major. So how is he dealing with the nerves? Faking it until he makes it.

"I'm trying to downplay that as much as I possibly can just to make it seem like any other golf tournament, because essentially that's all it really is," said the 29-year-old.

Meanwhile, Rahm had a careless three-putt bogey on the final hole that tarnished his three-under 67 and was part of the five-way tie for second with Aberg, Aaron Rai, as well as Matti Schmid and Nick Taylor, who both carded a round of the day 65.

"The challenge can also be kind of fun if you do well," said Rahm of the close leaderboard.

"That's probably the reason why the leaderboard is so bunched up. And it's going to be such a good Sunday tomorrow."

Rory McIlroy also threw his name in the hat for Sunday silverware with a sizzling 66, moving him to T7 at three under, along with heavyweights Patrick Reed and Xander Schauffele. World number one Scottie Scheffler is five shots off the pace.