A single putt on the green can turn everything upside down – and sometimes funnel nearly a million dollars into your account. That's exactly what happened to Alex Smalley recently at the 2026 PGA Championship when he delivered a true thrill on the 72nd hole. What a finish!
Smalley drained a 20-foot (approx. 6.1 meters) birdie putt on the 18th, securing a tie for second place (T2) at 6-under-par. This single stroke catapulted him from third place directly to second. A marginal difference on the leaderboard, but a massive jump on the check. The prize money difference? A hefty $961,000 more in his pocket, which brought his prize money for the T2 finish to $1.804 million, while the guys in T3 still received $843,000. That was a truly massive payday, accounting for a staggering 7.7 percent of his career earnings to date, which stood at around $12 million.
The Masters Calls
But it wasn't just the raw cash that made this putt so significant. The T2 finish also earned Smalley an invitation to the prestigious Masters – a reward that for many golfers is even more valuable than the prize money alone. The PGA Championship's top-4 exemption is a true career ticket.
So, this birdie putt was much more than just a successful conclusion to a stellar round. It was a game-changer that not only boosted Alex Smalley's bank account but also secured him a spot at the 2027 Masters and significantly enhanced his season prospects. A moment that shows how crazy and unpredictable golf can be.
