Heritage notebook: Merritt’s sensational finish not enough

Troy Merritt ended the 47^th RBC Heritage Presented by Boeing in style Sunday with a holed approach shot for eagle on the 16^th hole and 25-foot birdie putt on the 18^th.

He just didn’t start the tournament well enough, or do enough through the first 15 holes at Harbour Town Golf Links.

Merritt, ranked 249^th in the world and seeking his first PGA Tour win in four seasons, began the final round with a three-shot lead over three players but bogeyed the first hole and was 2-over par by the time he holed out from 115 yards on the par-4 16^th.

He shot a 2-under 69 to finish alone in third at 16-under 268, two shots out of a playoff between winner Jim Furyk and Kevin Kisner to earn more than $400,000.

“I had a lot of fun,” said the Iowa native and Boise State alum. “I’m real pleased with the way I finished and just happy with the week overall.”

Merritt bogeyed the par-4 first hole after a wayward drive and double bogeyed the par-4 12^th with a drive out of bounds. “Other than that it was just rock solid all day,” he said. “I just couldn't get any putts to go.”

Merritt matched his second-best PGA Tour finish to his runner-up in last June’s FedEx St. Jude Classic. He did it by matching David Frost’s tournament record with a 10-under 61 Friday and broke 70 each day with three 69s.

“I relearned again that when the tempo and the golf swing is there, I don't shy away from shots, and I felt I good control over the golf ball,” Merritt said. “I played pretty aggressive for the most part all week.”

Working overtime

Jordan Spieth has earned a week off.

The 21-year-old was trying to finish first or second for the fourth consecutive week and his fifth consecutive event, but he tied for 11^th at 10-under 274.

Though he came up shy, he still provided the tournament with some excitement with a 9-under 62 Friday.

“It was kind of a weird event. I was streaky, up and down,” Spieth said. “All in all what a great four-week stretch. Just looking back now on these four weeks, it was incredible. I'm happy I came here. I had a great experience here, as always, and looking forward to a little bit of rest.”

The 62 got him into the top 10 and into contention for the weekend, when he shot rounds of 68 and 70. “I didn't have it today, really on the weekend,” Spieth said. “I just struggled to find a go-to shot, and just it didn't really see any putts go in. That happens sometimes.”

In his four events prior to the Heritage, Spieth won the Valspar Championship, finished second in the Valero Texas Open and Shell Houston Open, and won the Masters. He then embarked on a two-day, 25-interview media blitz Monday and Tuesday before arriving in Hilton Head late Tuesday night.

Spieth’s hectic stretch didn’t end in Hilton Head. He caught a flight Sunday afternoon to his hometown of Dallas in an attempt to present an award in his green jacket at the Academy of Country Music Awards.

His one-week break at home will begin Monday. “I’m certainly looking forward to some rest,” Spieth said. “I probably won't touch a club for a few days.”

Spieth said the Heritage should be an annual consideration for his schedule. He has played in the tournament in each of his three years as a pro.

“I know next year's schedule gets a little mixed up with the Olympics and the Ryder Cup year, so I haven't really looked at what's happening around it,” he said. “Obviously I can't play every week, but this one is one that I'll certainly highlight as wanting to come back, because I do enjoy it.”

Elementary for Watson

Tom Watson finished 72^nd at 3-over 287 with a closing 76, and challenged some records in doing so.

The Heritage winner in 1979 and 1982 made the cut Friday at the age of 65 years, 7 months and 13 days, becoming the second oldest player to make the cut in tournament history behind Sam Snead in 1978 at 65 years and 9 months.

Snead set the record for the oldest player to make a cut on the PGA Tour at the 1979 Manufacturers Hanover Westchester Classic at 67 years, 2 months and 21 days.

Watson birdied the 18^th hole in Friday’s second round to make the cut at even-par 142 and shot a 2-under 69 Saturday.

“It was nice to make the cut, but I don’t know how many more years I’ll be playing against the kids,” Watson said. “The Masters may be my last year next year. The distance is ebbing away in this old body.

“… Even like this course, if I don’t have a chance to win, I’m taking the spot of another player who has an opportunity to win, or the tools to win.”

Mastering the Heritage

Since the Heritage moved into its customary slot after the Masters on the PGA Tour schedule in 1983 – the lone exception being 2011 when it was played two weeks after the Masters – just six players have won the tournament without having competing at Augusta National Golf Club the week earlier.

They are Carl Petterson in 2012, Brian Gay in 2009, Boo Weekley in 2007, Aaron Baddeley in 2006, Bob Tway in 1995 and Davis Love III in 1987.

Furyk missed the cut at the Masters last week and spent the weekend and Monday in North Myrtle Beach for Hootie & the Blowfish Monday After the Masters Celebrity Pro-Am events.

A fulfilling week

For all the talk of players using the Heritage and Hilton Head Island to decompress after playing in the pressure-packed Masters, Furyk has some context to add.

“I think sometimes that gets played out a little too thick, and the reason why is because I think it takes a little bit away from this tournament,” Furyk said. “I don't come down to decompress. I come down because I love the event. If I felt the golf course was terrible and I didn't enjoy being here, I'd be decompressing at home.”

Furyk appreciates the atmosphere at the tournament as much as he does the strategic Pete Dye layout.

“I love the island. I think the folks here are fun. There are a lot of events that feel like a party atmosphere, but this is kind of a classier party than some of the other ones we see. The weather is starting to get warm. Everyone is having a good time. It just has always had a good vibe and a good feel for me.”

This story was originally published April 19, 2015 at 10:03 PM with the headline "Heritage notebook: Merritt’s sensational finish not enough."