Merritt Quiets Critics at PGA Tour’s Quicken Loans National

Both Winona State (Minnesota) and Boise State (Idaho) universities can bask in the glow of Troy Merritt’s inaugural PGA Tour triumph. Before he won this week at RTJ Golf Club, before he before he won the 2009 Mexico Open on the Web.Com Tour, Merritt made his bones at two decidedly non-golf universities. In total contrast to the native Iowan’s humble roots are those of two pursuers — Rickie Fowler and Bill Haas. The former played collegiately at Oklahoma State, while the latter spent his university days at Wake Forest. Merritt outlasted both on Sunday.

Fowler never seemed to get his engine revved, never mounted the charge that many expected from him every time he tees up on Tour. The Californian made seven birdies on the day, but offset them with five bogeys. The last birdie of the day was enough to elevate Fowler to solo second place, one ahead of David Lingmerth. As for Haas, he seized the lead midway through the day, then forgot how to play golf over the final third of the course. Beginning on hole No. 12, the six-time Tour champion posted four bogeys, a double, a birdie and a par to drop from first to a tie for fourth.

Merritt played a solid front side on Sunday, turning in three birdies and six pars. Despite a 12th-hole bogey, he was able to avoid a Haas-style implosion, finishing the final six holes two-under par for a three-stroke margin of victory. Tied with Merritt at the beginning of the day, Kevin Chappell never anticipated the nightmarish round that awaited him on Sunday. Five bogeys and two doubles ensured that the former UCLA golfer would remain winless on the PGA Tour.

Women’s British Open Crowns Inbee Park For First Time

A week after she questioned the logic of the Olympic selection process, Inbee Park matched the low round of the day (65) and overtook third-round leaders Teresa Lu and Jin Young Ko to win at Turnberry. With the victory, Park earned a career grand slam (we think) on the LPGA Tour.

The haze surrounding the LPGA “Grand Slam” stems from Park’s victory at Evian in 2012. The French event didn’t officially become a major until 2013, so who knows what the brass at LPGA HQ will say. Either way, she has won four different major championships, and has already been recognized by many as a winner of the LPGA career Grand Slam.

Perry Tops 3M Championship and Kizzire Kaptures Utah Event

The once-were and hope-to-be tours went at it hard this week in Minnesota and Utah, respectively. Kenny Perry figured out the only way to beat Bernhard Langer is to throw a 61 at him and make him chase you. So he did, and Bernhard did. Perry’s second-round score of 11-under par included just seven birdies, an ace on the par-three fourth, and an eagle on the par-five 18th. His score bettered first-round leader Tom Lehman’s effort by 10 strokes and catapulted him to a four-stroke lead over the field. Perry appeared non-plussed about his round, although he knew it was not simply another day at the office:

“TO START OUT 5-UNDER THROUGH FOUR, I HAD AN IDEA IT MIGHT BE A SPECIAL DAY,” Perry said. “I STARTED THINKING, `YOU KNOW WHAT, WHAT IS IT LIKE TO SHOOT A 59?'”

Despite a game effort by Langer to close the gap on Day 3, Perry would simply not let anyone near him. An opening bogey was the cold water he needed, so he made birdies on four of the next five holes. Although another bogey lurked on the back nine, Perry made two birdies coming home and cinched a four-stroke triumph. Langer made a game effort, with five birdies on the day, but needed his own 61 to put pressure on the leader.

Meanwhile, back in Utah, Patton Kizzire and Sung Kang played hot potato with the lead on Day 4 of the Utah Championship on the Web.Com tour. Kizzire seized a sizable lead on Day 2 with a lightning-hot 62, then played steady golf on the weekend shooting 71-69. Trouble was, Kang chipped away at the lead on both days, finishing 68-67 to force a playoff. Included in that Sunday 67 were four impressive birdies over the final six holes for the young Korean.

The golfers headed to the 18th hole twice in overtime. On the first go-round, neither gave himself a serious chance at birdie, making par via two-putts from 50 and 25 feet. On the return trip to 18, Kizzire took advantage of a weak Kang wedge to 30 feet by stuffing his to three feet. Kang missed his attempt by inches, but Kizzire was accurate with his and claimed the Billy Casper Cup.

Simply Not Mashworthy, But Still Worth Your Time

Rickie Buys A Round

Rickie Fowler aced the 9th hole (his 18th) on Thursday at the Quicken Loans National, then bought the media tent a tub of beer. Above the tub was the note:

[quote_center]It’s not a mortgage for a year, but enjoy a cold one on me! Cheers! -Rickie. [/quote_center]

Take note of the commonality: light beer. Clearly Rickie knows the girth of some of us in the press tent and was offering a gentle suggestion along with his tribute. As for me, I would have had Uncle Rico autograph my can, then saved it for the grandchildren to fight over.

Tiger Not Just A Ceremonial Golfer

Some wag last week called Tiger Woods a “ceremonial golfer,” after his poor performance at The Open Championship. Clearly said wag (and others like him) should read Tom Stites’ piece on Ben Hogan’s powers of perception, then draw a line to Mr. Woods. Woods had three rounds in the 60s this week. A 70 instead of 74 on Saturday gets him inside the top 10. And he hit this wildly impressive recovery shot on Sunday — nothing ceremonial about it.

For now, the only “ceremonial” tied to Tiger marks the opening of his golf courses and learning centers.

Ten-Year Streak for the Norwegian Pooper

Yep, this guy is on a (paper) roll, at the expense of the Stavanger Golf Club in Hafrsfjord, Norway. The poor superintendent has found human leavings in a number of holes on the course for the past decade. This is one serious, repeat offender. The guy (size of Mr. Hankies the clue, says the super) has climbed trees to dismantle spotlights, restricted his visits to weekdays, and varied his methods of arrival. That the guy takes time to wipe and leave the paper behind says more about his concern for self than the course. Talk about abuse of fertilizer.