Unheralded leader Alex Smalley has a pal in Sunday's final pairing of the PGA Championship, and that might just ease the nerves of fighting a host of major winners for a dream victory.

Top-ranked defending champion Scottie Scheffler fired a three-under par 67 to seize a share of the lead in Thursday's opening round of the PGA Championship.

There are a staggering 48 players at or within three of the lead, the most after any round in the modern era of major championships.