Merritt Fires Record-Tying 61; Takes Over First at RBC Heritage


Troy Merritt matched the tournament record of 10-under 61 to take a four-stroke lead in the midpoint of the RBC Heritage. The $5.9 million PGA Tour event is taking place at the Pete Dye-designed Harbour Town Golf Links on Hilton Head Island in South Carolina.

Merritt, a 29-year-old Iowan in search of his first Tour title, opened with a 2-under 69. On Friday he carded three birdies on the front nine for a 3-under 33 on the par-71 layout. He came home with seven birdies - including four in a row on the final holes - to equal the tournament scoring record of 61 established by David Frost in 1994.

"It was a lot of fun," Merritt said during a TV interview after the round. "Hit a lot of quality shots and rolled in some putts. My tempo was spot-on all day."

His work on the short grass was particularly impressive as Merritt needed only 22 puts in 18 holes. Still, he knows there's a long way to go before he can claim his maiden victory. "We're only halfway through the tournament and there's a lot of great players behind me."

The easygoing Merritt received a standing ovation after his final birdie at Harbour Town's iconic 18th hole. "Usually, when I see the (large) crowd like that, it's because I'm in them," he quipped.

Trailing by four strokes are defending champion Matt Kuchar, who shot a 66, and John Merrick (65). Five back are Northern Ireland's Graeme McDowell (69) and Americans Kevin Kisner (67) and 2010 winner Jim Furyk (64).

McDowell was tied for the 18-hole lead with Matt Every after each opened with 66s on a chilly and windy Thursday.

Newly-crowned Masters champion Jordan Spieth rebounded from an opening 74 with a 9-under 62 to rise into a share of seventh at 136 with fellow Americans Morgan Hoffman (68), Every (70) and Kevin Streelman (65), and South African Louis Oosthuizen (67).

Spieth arrived in South Carolina on the heels of a whirlwind week of 25 media appearances in New York - including the David Letterman Show in his new green jacket - and didn't have a chance to play a practice round (or even a hole) prior to the first round. On Thursday, the 21-year-old from Dallas had a birdie, two bogeys and a double.

But in the second round the No. 2-ranked player in the world posted nine birdies to rise up the leaderboard.

"I don't want to go home early," said Spieth, who's trying to become the first player since Bernhard Langer in 1985 to win the Masters and Heritage in consecutive weeks. "I knew that with today's conditions being easier, I needed to shoot at least 2-under par. ... But I definitely feel more relaxed, almost like it's not as much of a grind and a little more stress-free."

Kuchar, who was paired with Spieth for the second day in a row, continued to be impressed by the enthusiastic galleries at Harbour Town. "It was cool to see, just huge crowds," Kuchar said. "People (were) really excited to see the defending Masters champion. And then the fact that both of us got going pretty well today, there was a lot of excitement, a lot of people coming to check it out.

"And it was every bit a weekend feel, a major feel. It had great buzz."

Merritt was especially proud of staying up with the red-hot Spieth, who in his last four starts has two victories - including his first major - and a pair of runner-ups. "Any time you can match the reigning Masters' champ shot for shot, it's pretty cool," Merritt said.

The cut was set at even-par 142. Among those heading home is four-time major winner Erne Els, Champions Tour regular Kenny Perry, and four-time PGA Tour winner Patrick Reed.

For all the scores, visit http://www.pgatour.com/leaderboard.html.