Merritt shoots course record 61 in stunning round at RBC Heritage
Troy Merritt’s wife said he’d have to shoot at least 6-under par if he wanted to justify wearing the loud blue, white and black patterned shirt he picked out for Friday.
After his record-setting performance, he may have to wear it Saturday and Sunday, too.
“I don’t know if I get to wear it again because I beat it,” Merritt said of his wife’s ultimatum.
Just hours after reigning Masters champion Jordan Spieth dominated Harbour Town Golf Links to the tune of a 9-under day, Troy Merritt went out and did him one better.
The 29-year-old Iowan stormed his way to a course record 61, pushing him four strokes clear of the pack in a stunning round at the RBC Heritage Presented by Boeing. He birdied each of his last four holes, displaying total control over some of the course’s most daunting challenges. By the time his approach shot landed just five feet from the pin on No. 18, converting his final putt of the day felt inevitable.
“It’s always fun when things are firing on all cylinders,” Merritt said. “It’s a pretty cool feeling to share that record for a course that has so much history.”
On a day in which the likes of defending champion Matt Kuchar, Spieth and former Heritage champion Graeme McDowell pressed to the top of the leaderboard, Merritt somehow topped them all. Unlike Spieth, who was followed by enormous crowds throughout the late morning, Merritt’s accomplishments came in front of a smaller group of supporters. After sinking the final birdie putt, spectators in the grandstand stood and applauded.
“Usually when I see the crowd, it’s because I’m in them,” Merritt joked. “They like to see good golf. And it gives you that extra motivation to hit good shots and to perform well for them.”
Merritt’s only professional win is at the 2009 Mexico Open, part of the Nationwide Tour at the time. He has never won a PGA Tour event. Just this season, he has been cut from six of 14 tournaments played. On Saturday, he’ll play alongside Kuchar and a packed gallery.
“The only thing I have going for me that Matt doesn’t is my hairline hasn’t receded quite as much as his,” Merritt said.
Merritt’s round matches David Frost’s 61 in the second round of the 1994 Heritage. His 10-birdie performance is one better than Spieth’s total earlier on Friday. Most important, Merritt has established a little breathing room at the top, though there’s still a lot of golf left to play. On Friday, he took advantage of friendly conditions, working with precision and confidence. He hit 14 of 18 greens in regulation.
But at a course as volatile as Harbour Town, Saturday could bring an entirely different result.
This story was originally published April 17, 2015 at 6:45 PM.