GAINESVILLE, Va. — Troy Merritt walked to the final tee with a three-shot lead and slapped hands with fans on both sides of the ropes, knowing he had all but wrapped up his first PGA Tour title.
Not bad for a player who had missed five cuts in a row coming into the Quicken Loans National.
Merritt shot a 4-under 67 on Sunday and finished his first career victory in 96 starts with a flourish, rolling in a 34-foot putt for birdie on the 72nd hole. After the putt fell, he raised his hands, looked toward the crowd and shrugged his shoulders, as if to say that it was the perfect way to finish.