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In his fifth season on the PGA Tour, Alex Smalley is still looking for his first victory. His pursuit has seen him play 141 events so far. But throughout this time, he has had the support of his partner. She has been cheering him on from behind the ropes, whether it’s during poor performances or tough second-place finishes, she has never backed out of being there for her boyfriend. With Chelsea Groves by his side, Smalley is certainly winning in life.

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It’s unclear how exactly they met but their connection does trace back to Duke University, where Smalley was a star athlete. Between 2015 and 2019, he claimed multiple All-ACC honors from the university. Groves also spent her time there building her future. She currently works in sports media as the Director of Social Media at the university.

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We assume that’s how they met. But the couple prefers to keep their personal life private. What we do know is that Groves has studied at Butler University. She shared her student ID from the university on Instagram. That also told us her complete name, which is Chelsea Morgan Groves.

Coming back to the couple, Groves had appeared on the golf course to cheer for Smalley a few times in the past. But the couple were only rumored to be dating until a few months ago. They confirmed their relationship after they shared a picture of themselves against the backdrop of a beautiful meadow on Instagram back in November 2025.

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Having said that, let’s get to know Smalley’s girlfriend a little better as a person.

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Getting to know Alex Smalley’s girlfriend, Chelsea Groves, better

Being the Director of Social Media for Duke Athletics might be Chelsea Groves’ current job. But that’s not all that Alex Smalley’s girlfriend is passionate about. There are many more things about her that we learned while going through her social media.

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While she is excelling in a career on social media, there was a time she may have wanted to pursue journalism. In many of her pictures from Butler University, she is seen holding a microphone, conducting interviews with athletes and her fellow college mates.

Other than that, Groves herself could have been an athlete. She is also seen on the court playing basketball for her university. And no, we’re not talking about just having fun with her friends. She is actually seen geared up in her university uniform as if she were representing the team.

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Seems like she had multiple career paths to choose from coming out of college, and ended up going for a job in marketing.

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Written by

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Molin Sheth

2,148 Articles

Molin Sheth is a senior Golf writer at EssentiallySports and a key member of the ES Golf Trends Desk. He brings strong editorial judgment and a data-driven approach to uncovering the game’s overlooked angles, delivering insightful play-by-play reporting across golf’s four major championships. As part of the EssentiallySports Journalistic Excellence Program, an in-house initiative that mentors and develops writers through expert guidance and rigorous training, Molin works closely with industry-leading mentors to bring clarity and depth to a sport where precision matters and every shot tells a story. Molin comes from a diverse professional background that enriches his coverage. With extensive experience in digital marketing, content management, and quality assurance, he excels at optimizing processes and enhancing user experiences, skills that translate into delivering well-researched, engaging content efficiently. His roles in customer support, technical troubleshooting, and cross-functional collaboration have honed his problem-solving abilities and attention to detail. This comprehensive skill set allows Molin to approach golf reporting with a unique blend of creativity, analytical rigor, and operational excellence, ensuring his work resonates with both casual fans and serious golf enthusiasts.

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Edited by

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Riya Singhal

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