Alex Smalley’s mom is garnering a ton of attention as her son grabs surprise lead at the PGA Championship
Alex Smalley will begin Sunday’s final round of the PGA Championship in completely unfamiliar territory as Aronimink Golf Club’s 54-hole leader. However, one thing is certain for that day and that is that he follows and follows his “mother’s” every move.
Smalley’s mother, Maria, was at Aronimink every step of the way to witness her son build a two-stroke lead entering Sunday’s game, and the now 29-year-old hasn’t missed a step since his high school playing days.
Accordingly AthleticMaria has been tracking tournament statistics since her senior year of high school and hasn’t stopped since. That continued throughout his college career at Duke and from the moment he turned pro in 2019 to a potentially life-changing afternoon at the PGA Championship.
Alex Smalley of the United States hits the ninth green during the second round of the PGA Championship at Aronimink Golf Club in Newtown, Pennsylvania on May 15, 2026. (Photo: Carl Recine/Getty Images) (Carl Recine/Getty Images)
“I do his business, I do his statistics. That’s what I do when I’m texting constantly on the course.” Maria said During the 2023 John Deere Classic, Smalley finished in a tie for second. “It keeps me focused so I don’t get confused and crazy. It gives me something to do.”
As for the stats he tracks throughout his tour, they’re not basic; they are as detailed as the notes players usually take.
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Alex Smalley of the United States makes a putt on the eighth hole during the third round of the PGA Championship at Aronimink Golf Club in Newtown, Pennsylvania, on May 16, 2026. (Photo: Carl Recine/Getty Images) (Carl Recine/Getty Images)
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Maria never misses an event and never misses a shot. He notes his son’s distance from the pin, which club he hit on the shot, as well as the wind direction he was facing. Oh, and there are also thousands of videos from years past.
“Luckily I got a new phone call in December,” he told The Athletic. “Because my other friend was always backing up and deleting things. Sometimes I go back and delete some, but it’s funny because her coach asked me, ‘Do you have anything from 5 years ago?’ he asked. And that’s what I do!”
In 140 starts on the PGA Tour, Smalley made 85 cuts while earning 15 Top 10 finishes, including three runner-up finishes.
Alex Smalley of the United States drives on the fourteenth hole during the third round of the Truist Championship 2026 at Quail Hollow Country Club in Charlotte, North Carolina on May 09, 2026. (Photo: Joe Robbins/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) (Icon Sportswire via Joe Robbins/Getty Images)
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But it will be a completely different beast on Sunday in Aronimink. This week’s PGA Championship represents only the fifth major championship start of his career, and his best finish came at the 2023 PGA, where he tied for 23rd.
Smalley’s story throughout the week was his red-hot putter who led the PGA Championship field in strokes gained by a wide margin: He’ll need the straight putter to continue being his best friend if he’s to go through 54 holes and find the winner’s circle on Sunday.
