Who Is Alex Smalley? The PGA Championship’s first reserve turned second round sensation

Who Is Alex Smalley? The PGA Championship's first reserve turned second round sensation

Thrust into the PGA Championship spotlight as a last-minute replacement, Alex Smalley is turning heads at Quail Hollow.

Alex Smalley wasn’t in the original field for the 2025 PGA Championship, but the 28-year-old American has quickly proven he belongs among the game’s elite. Smalley has taken full advantage of the opportunity at Quail Hollow this week, carding two superb rounds that leave him with a great chance of winning his maiden major on his fourth start. He’s only made a grand slam weekend once before, finishing T23 in this event in 2023.

Amateur Success

Born in October 1996 in Rochester, New York, and raised in Greensboro, North Carolina, Smalley was introduced to the game of golf early on. Like many aspiring pros, he first picked up a club as a young child and fondly remembers hitting a rubber golf ball in the snow in his backyard.

Smalley attended Duke University, where he studied environmental science while competing at the highest levels of collegiate golf. During his time at Duke, he secured multiple victories and earned All-American honors, strengthening his reputation by representing the United States in both the 2019 Walker Cup and Palmer Cup.

Path to the PGA Tour

Smalley turned professional in 2019 and began his career on the PGA Tour of Canada, later progressing through the Korn Ferry Tour. His steady performance eventually earned him full PGA Tour status. While he has yet to claim a PGA Tour victory, he has twice finished as runner-up – at the 2022 Corales Puntacana Championship and the 2023 John Deere Classic. He continues to be one of the tour’s most consistent performers and is currently ranked 3rd on the PGA Tour in scoring average for the 2025 season.

• ‘It sucks!’ Top stars fume as controversial rules decision wreaks havoc at PGA Championship
• Why we can rule 137 players OUT of winning the PGA Championship

A Family Affair

Smalley’s journey in golf has been a real family affair, with both of his parents caddying for him at different points in his career, which is something you don’t see often at the professional level. Having that kind of trusted support inside the ropes has likely played a part in his calm, no-fuss approach on the course.

Off the course, Smalley’s background in environmental science from Duke gives him a smart, thoughtful edge.

2025 PGA Championship

Smalley entered the 2025 PGA Championship as the tournament’s first alternate, prepared but uncertain whether he would compete. That changed when Sahith Theegala withdrew shortly before the opening round due to a neck injury, allowing Smalley to step into the field.

Despite the short notice, he produced an impressive opening round of 67, immediately establishing himself as a contender and, as we write, he’s two-under and just two shots off the lead through 14 holes of his second round.