US PGA Championship: Day three digest

Smalley had reason to smile, Reitan was leaving it late and drives and putts were covering some serious yardage.

Here is all you need to know.

Battling Smalley hits the front

Alex Smalley produced a brilliant, gutsy performance to take a two-shot lead into the final round of the US PGA Championship. The American entered the third round in a share of the lead but on a day when 14 players would sit atop the leaderboard at some point, he bogeyed three of his first four holes to fall back. As a player without a professional win, the World Number 78 could have possibly been forgiven for staying in the pack but to his immense credit he fought back at Aronimink Golf Club. After turning in 37, he came home in 31 and a 14-footer on the last handed him a 68 and a six under total. There was then a five-strong group at four under, made up of two-time Major champion Jon Rahm, Ryder Cup star Ludvig Åberg, two-time Rolex Series winner Aaron Rai, German Matti Schmid and Canadian Nick Taylor. Two-time reigning Masters champion Rory McIlroy, Race to Dubai Rankings Delivered by DP World leader Patrick Reed, 2024 US PGA champion Xander Schauffele and another American in Maverick McNealy were at three under with 30 players within five shots of the lead.

Reitan stars after late putter change

"It was a little bit of a spontaneous decision," said Kristoffer Reitan. He was talking of his decision to change his putter for round three, a decision he made just ten minutes before his tee time. "It just has a little bit of a different feel to it, a little bit softer on the face which is nice, I can be a little bit more aggressive on the quick greens," he added. The in-from Norwegian has had the putter for two-and-a-half years but swapped it out last week at the Truist Championship and went on to win his first PGA TOUR title at Quail Hollow. Despite that success, Reitan decided to switch back for Moving Day and proceeded to card two eagles and three birdies to move to two under and will now be aiming for a first Major Championship win less than two years after winning his first professional title and after nearly eight years in the paid ranks.

It's not just the putter.....

The tee at the par four 13th was brought up 91 yards to make it driveable and Reitan duly obliged, hitting the pin with his tee shot and making an eagle two.

How far?

Unlike the 13th, the 397-yard sixth was not meant to driveable. Rory McIlroy did not get the memo.

Seriously, how far?

Not the driver this time but the putter. Just the 78 feet for Haotong Li.