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Alex Smalley is ready to pull off an upset as he bids to hold off Rory McIlroy and the chasing pack at the US PGA Championship.

The American birdied four of the last six holes to pull two shots clear of the pack at Aronimink Golf Club.

Heavyweight names including Ryder Cup stars Jon Rahm and Ludvig Aberg were gathered at the top of the leaderboard, one clear of six-time major champion McIlroy and fellow major winners Xander Schauffele and Patrick Reed.

But Philadelphia, city of Rocky Balboa charging up its Museum of Art steps, loves an underdog story.

Cast in that role is 29-year-old Smalley, in just his fifth major championship and without a PGA Tour win to his name.

Having held the overnight lead, he bogeyed three of his first four holes on Saturday as it appeared his race may be run.

But back he came and a birdie at the last took him to six under par and makes him the man to chase down – with a staggering 21 players within four shots of his lead.

“Anybody who wants to play golf for a living dreams of winning on the PGA Tour when they’re younger,” Smalley said.

“I recognise that I have an opportunity to do that tomorrow. I recognise that it’s on a stage that’s a little bit larger than most other tour events.

“I’m trying to downplay that as much as I possibly can just to make it seem like any other golf tournament.”

The leaderboard has been tightly packed throughout the first three days, as low-scoring proved tough, with nobody prior to Smalley able to pull clear.

McIlroy, bidding to win back-to-back majors and a seventh overall, clawed his way back into the fight by shooting 66 to stand one off the lead when he signed his card.

Rahm joined the five-strong group at four under, alongside England’s Aaron Rai, Swede Aberg, Canadian Nick Taylor and German Matti Schmid.

As he wrapped up his media interviews, Rahm looked at the leaderboard and asked if anyone had ever seen anything like it.

“As hard as it is to play, the challenge can also be kind of fun if you do well,” Rahm said of the course.

“That’s probably the reason why the leaderboard is so bunched up and it’s going to be such a good Sunday tomorrow. So in that sense, showmanship-wise, they’ve done a great job.”

Justin Rose had earlier fought his way back into the tournament, matching the best round of the week with 65 and will start Sunday four shots off the lead.

A shot further back is world number one Scottie Scheffler, who struggled to a one-over round of 71.

“Going into tomorrow, it’s quite literally anybody’s tournament,” Scheffler said. “There’s a lot of guys that have a chance.

“Somebody is going to have a great round and I’m going to make sure to do my best to give myself my the best shot at being the one who has a great round.”

Selected round four tee times

5.05pm (all times BST) – Scottie Scheffler and David Puig6.25pm – Justin Rose and Joaquin Niemann7.05pm – Rory McIlroy and Xander Schauffele7.15pm – Aaron Rai and Ludvig Aberg7.25pm – Nick Taylor and Jon Rahm7.35pm – Alex Smalley and Matti Schmid