Alex Smalley grabs lead at PGA Championship, Canadian Nick Taylor 2 shots back

The PGA Championship where no one could take control Saturday is now the major that practically everybody can win.

Alex Smalley at least gets a head start thanks to his sublime play on the back nine at Aronimink Golf Club, with six birdies over his final 10 holes for a 2-under 68 and a two-shot lead.

His finishing kick kept this PGA Championship from having the largest 54-hole logjam in major championship history. There was a seven-way tie for the lead with an hour to go in the third round, and players with highest pedigree all within range.

Fourteen players had at least a share of the lead Saturday. Midway through the third round, 28 players were separated by two shots. And not just any players.

Jon Rahm and Rory McIlroy were among those tied at one point. Xander Schauffele and Patrick Reed were right behind. About the only one who failed to seize on the moment was defending champion Scottie Scheffler, who missed six putts inside 10 feet, four of them for birdie.

Smalley's final birdie putt from just inside 15 feet put him at 6-under 204, two shots ahead of Abbotsford, B.C.'s Nick Taylor and Rahm, and three ahead of McIlroy Schauffele and Reed.

Scheffler made a nine-foot bogey putt on the final hole and was five behind.

"I've never seen anything like this," Scheffler said. "I've never seen a leaderboard like this, this bunched up. Going into tomorrow, it's quite literally anybody's tournament."

But it starts with Smalley, the 29-year-old who lives in North Carolina and is playing only his fifth major, never cracking the top 20. He's also never won on tour, but he's been rounding into form lately. He is coming up three straight finishes in the top 20.

He looked like he might crack early, playing in the final group with