GAINESVILLE, Va. -Troy Merritt shot a final round 67 to finish at 18-under-par and won by three shots as he claimed his first career PGA Tour win at the Quicken Loans National at Robert Trent Jones Golf Club just outside of Washington, D.C. Merritt picked up the winner’s cheque for $1.2 million in the process.
The native of Arizona shot a tournament-record 61 on Saturday to tie Kevin Chappell at 14-under par going into Sunday’s final round. Chappell shot 77 to fall way out of contention and finish at 8-under.
Rickie Fowler, who started the day a shot off the lead, made a birdie on the final hole to claim second, and David Lingmerth was third, but both had up-and-down rounds. Fowler shot a 69 that featured seven birdies and five bogeys, and Lingmerth’s 69 included five birdies and three bogeys.
Tiger Woods shot a 69 to finish at 8 under, but birdied 5 of his first 10 holes to get it to 10 under before bogeys at 11 and 12 effectively ended any chance he may have had to win. Still, at a tie for 18th, it was Woods’ best result since finishing in a tie for 17th at the Masters back in April.
“My short game is starting to come back to where it used to be. Everything is kind of trending in the correct direction now,” Woods told reporters following Sunday’s round.
“I’m hitting the ball up there with some of the bigger guys again,” he added.
Main Photo Credit: GAINESVILLE, VA. August 2nd: Troy Merritt watches his approach shot on the 14th hole during the final round of the Quicken Loans National in Gainesville Virginia. Merritt would shoot a final round 67 to finish 18-under-par and win the tournament. Photo by Rafael Suanes – USA TODAY Sports
