Troy Merritt Bio
Troy Brian Merritt, born on October 25, 1985, is an American professional golfer who has competed on the PGA Tour and the Web.com Tour. He is a two-time winner on the PGA Tour, with his most recent victory coming at the 2018 Barbasol Championship. Merritt is known for his aggressive ball-striking and has produced several of the lowest single rounds in PGA Tour history.
Standing 183 centimeters tall and weighing 73 kilograms, Merritt has built a reputation as a steady competitor capable of posting low scores when his swing is in form. He has resided in Boise, Idaho, and continues to play professional golf at the highest level in the United States.
Early Life and Background
Troy Brian Merritt was born on October 25, 1985, in the small community of Osage, Iowa. During his childhood, his family relocated to Minnesota, where he attended Spring Lake Park High School and developed his game on the high school golf circuit. The move gave Merritt exposure to competitive junior golf in a region known for producing strong all-around athletes.
After completing high school, Merritt enrolled at Winona State University, where he played college golf for two seasons. He later transferred to Boise State University, a program with a stronger golf tradition, to finish out his college career. At Boise State, Merritt earned first-team All-Western Athletic Conference honors and tied the school’s individual low-round record with a nine-under-par 62 during the second round of the District VII Shootout.
Path to Professional Golf
Following his time at Boise State, Merritt decided to pursue golf as a full-time profession and turned pro in 2008. He began his career on the Nationwide Tour, the developmental circuit that fed into the PGA Tour, and quickly made an impression. On September 6, 2009, he captured his first professional title at the Mexico Open, winning a purse of $117,000 by sinking a 20-foot birdie putt on the first hole of a playoff against Australia’s Adam Bland.
Just three months later, on December 7, 2009, Merritt accomplished a rare feat at the PGA Tour Qualifying Tournament, becoming only the third golfer to medal at the event by leading after every round. A double-bogey on the final hole of the six-round event cost him a chance at a record score, but he still finished one stroke ahead of veteran Jeff Maggert at 22-under-par. In 2010, he finished 125th on the PGA Tour money list, earning the final available spot to retain his tour card for the following season.
Troy Merritt Career
Early Career (2008-2010)
Merritt’s transition from amateur to professional golf began on the Nationwide Tour in 2008, where he spent the bulk of his early competitive years. His breakthrough came in 2009 with his playoff victory at the Mexico Open, a win that announced his arrival as a player to watch on the developmental circuit.
The pinnacle of his early development arrived at the PGA Tour Qualifying Tournament later that year, where his commanding performance secured full status on the PGA Tour. His 2010 season on the big tour was a battle, but he closed the year ranked 125th on the money list, good enough to keep his card by the narrowest of margins.
PGA Tour Breakthrough (2011-2017)
Merritt spent several years working to establish himself as a consistent presence on the PGA Tour. His big break came in 2015, when he tied the course record at the RBC Heritage on Hilton Head Island with a 10-under-par 61, matching a mark set by David Frost in 1994. That electrifying round, played a day after 2015 Masters champion Jordan Spieth shot 62, helped him finish third and earn $401,200, his largest paycheck to that point.
Just two months later, on June 28, 2015, Merritt earned his first PGA Tour victory at the Quicken Loans National. He set a Robert Trent Jones Golf Club course record with a 61 in the third round and won by three strokes at 18-under 266, holding off a strong chasing field. The win cemented his status as a proven winner on the game’s biggest stage.
Second Win and Recent Years (2018-Present)
Merritt captured his second PGA Tour title at the 2018 Barbasol Championship, opening with a 62 and closing with a 67 to win by one stroke. The tournament, delayed by weather, did not finish until the Monday after its scheduled conclusion. Eleven days after the victory, Merritt underwent emergency surgery to remove a blood clot that extended from his chest into his bicep, a serious health scare that briefly sidelined his career.
He returned to competition and in July 2021 contended at the Rocket Mortgage Classic, tying Cameron Davis and Joaquín Niemann at 18-under par through 72 holes. After Niemann was eliminated on the first playoff hole, Merritt was finally beaten when Davis converted a par on the fifth extra hole. Merritt continues to compete on the PGA Tour, drawing on more than a decade of experience at the sport’s highest level.
Driving Style and Strengths
Merritt is known for his aggressive approach to scoring and his ability to post extremely low rounds when his ball-striking is sharp. His record-setting 61s at the RBC Heritage and the Quicken Loans National illustrate a player who can take advantage of scoring conditions and attack pins with confidence. He has shown a comfort in final-round pressure situations, including a playoff win on the Nationwide Tour and a one-stroke victory at the 2018 Barbasol Championship.
Notable Events and Milestones
Among Merritt’s most memorable moments are his two PGA Tour wins, his course-record 61 at the RBC Heritage in 2015, and his commanding medal performance at the 2009 PGA Tour Qualifying Tournament. His 2021 playoff run at the Rocket Mortgage Classic also stands out as a high point in his post-injury career, demonstrating the resilience that has defined his journey in professional golf.
Troy Merritt Career Wins
Across his professional career, Troy Brian Merritt has recorded three verified wins: one on the Nationwide Tour and two on the PGA Tour. His victories span developmental and elite-level competition, and each came in different circumstances, from a one-hole playoff overseas to dominant wire-to-wire performances in the United States.
PGA Tour Highlights
Merritt’s first PGA Tour victory came at the 2015 Quicken Loans National, where he set a course record at Robert Trent Jones Golf Club with a 61 in the third round and won by three strokes at 18-under 266. His second PGA Tour title arrived at the 2018 Barbasol Championship, where a final-round 67 sealed a one-stroke win after the tournament was extended to Monday by weather.
Other Wins and Performances
Merritt’s earliest professional victory came at the 2009 Mexico Open on the Nationwide Tour, where he beat Adam Bland with a birdie putt on the first playoff hole. He has also recorded several high finishes on the PGA Tour, including a tie for third at the 2015 RBC Heritage and a runner-up playoff result at the 2021 Rocket Mortgage Classic.
Troy Merritt Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Troy Brian Merritt was raised in Osage, Iowa, before his family moved to Minnesota, where he attended Spring Lake Park High School. The family later settled in the Boise, Idaho area, the region he has called home for much of his adult life.
Personal Life
Merritt resides in Boise, Idaho, with his wife, Courtney Achter. The couple has two sons, and Merritt has spoken about the importance of family life in balancing the demands of the PGA Tour schedule.
2025 Season Performance
Heading into the 2025 PGA Tour season, Troy Brian Merritt looks to build on more than a decade of experience at the top level of professional golf. As a two-time tour winner, he retains status that allows him to compete in a full schedule of events, and his veteran perspective continues to make him a steady presence in the field.
His 2021 playoff appearance at the Rocket Mortgage Classic demonstrated that he remains competitive in the closing stages of tournaments, and his history of posting rounds in the low 60s suggests that scoring conditions can bring out his best. A return to form in 2025 would mark another chapter in a career defined by resilience, from his 2009 qualifying success to his recovery from emergency surgery in 2018.