Monday 3 August 2015 10:30, UK
Troy Merritt held off a late charge from Rickie Fowler to secure his maiden PGA Tour title at the Quicken Loans National in Virginia.
After Fowler had birdied three of the last five holes to post a 69 and set the clubhouse target at 15 under, Merritt made a crucial birdie at 16 and wrapped up a three-shot victory in some style at the last, holing a 35-foot putt for his fifth birdie of a composed four-under 67.
Merritt, who arrived at the Robert Trent Jones Golf Club in Gainsville on the back of five consecutive missed cuts, was the overnight joint-leader following his sizzling tournament-record 61 on day three, and he made a confident start with a birdie at the first.
He picked up further shots at the fifth and seventh holes, although he soon found himself tied at the top when Bill Haas rolled in his sixth birdie putt of a remarkable round at the 10th to reach 17 under par.
But Haas slipped out of contention after a torrid back-nine featuring four bogeys and one double-bogey, while Fowler and Memorial champion David Lingmerth stayed within striking distance of the leader down the stretch.
Lingmerth posted a two-under 69 to finish on 14 under, while Fowler went one better when he holed his 25-foot putt for birdie at the last to lay down the challenge for Merritt.
10th first-time winner in 2015
But the 29-year-old was up to the task, striking a superb tee-shot to three feet at the short 16th and converting for a two, and his grandstand finish saw him become the 10th first-time winner on the PGA Tour this season.
"I really made some golf shots coming in," Merritt said. "Battled all the way to the end. Hat's off to Rickie. It's great to battle a great player all the way to the end."
Defending champion Justin Rose struggled to get anything going after an early birdie at the second, and his challenge was effectively over when he missed the green at the par-three ninth and then three-putted to run up a double-bogey five.
He bounced back with an eagle at the long 14th and parred in to return a 70 and close on 12 under alongside Haas, Justin Thomas, Danny Lee, Carl Pettersson and Jason Bohn.
Halfway leader Ryo Ishikawa was a shot further adrift after a second straight 71 while Kevin Chappell, who shared the 54-hole lead with Merritt, had a day to forget as he dropped six shots in five holes on the back nine and carded a 77 to slip to eight under.
But tournament host Tiger Woods bounced back from his error-strewn third-round 74, firing five birdies over the first 10 holes before making bogeys at three of the next four as he settled for a 68 and his best 72-hole score for almost two years.
