Troy story - Merritt scoops $1m bonus in Florida
One US rookie edged out another for a cool million dollar bonus at this week's Children's Miracle Classic this week - even though he could only tie for 64th place at the PGA Tour event.
Troy Merritt saw off rival Rickie Fowler, along with the Australian Aaron Baddeley, to win the Kodak Challenge this weekend. With victory going to the man scoring the lowest total from holes selected from various tournaments played across the entire season of the PGA Tour, a play-off beckoned after this week's tournament concluded with Merritt, Fowler and Baddeley all level.
Though Merritt had gone into this week's tournament with a one stroke lead, Fowler and Baddeley both managed to birdie the nominated challenge hole, the 17th at the Magnolia course, to catch up.
That meant the three would need to face-off to decide victory, but Merritt made short work of the contest, birdying the first extra hole, the 17th, to deny his two rivals.
Of perhaps more long term significance to Merritt was his successful bid to retain his tour card for 2011, with the 25-year-old requiring a finish somewhere within the top 125 of the money list in order to gain exemption from qualification.
His eight-under-par total at the Lake Buena Vista-based tournament saw Merritt finish, with an admirable flair for the dramatic, at No. 125th on the list.
While that skin-of-the-teeth final placing guarantees Merritt's future, his present is also looking pretty peachy thanks to that $1m bonus this weekend. That's the kind of photo finish we all dream of.
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