John

Merrick

List surged out of the gate last week at Muirfield Village, sharing a slice of the first-round lead. His position on the board dipped in each progressive round though, From T1 to T4 to T7 and eventually fading to T26 after a Sunday 77. List has now gone 11 straight stroke-play events without a top 25, all coming on the heels of his breakout win at Torrey Pines.

Merrick swallowed a 6-over 78 in round one at Spyglass Hill. He split 10-of-14 fairways but landed just eight greens in regulation. That put him in in a share of 149th place with 36 holes to make up ground. This was a rare start for Merrick who plays on Past Champions status with limited playing opportunities. He’s pegged it just 18 times now since the start of the 2018-19 campaign. This will go in the books as his fifth career mid-tournament WD, in 289 total events played.

He took 33 putts and circled only two birdies. His most notables conversions were for par, both measuring just over 10 feet at the fifth and 12th holes. He had our attention today due to his withdrawal after 10 holes of his second round in San Antonio last week. An explanation wasn’t provided for that decision.

After opening with an even-par 72, Merrick started today’s second round of the 10th hole. He proceeded to go out in birdie-free, 9-over 45 with two bogeys, two doubles and a triple. After another bogey at the first hole, he called it quits. He’s now 4-for-11 on the season with no top 30s. If he’s able, he’ll try again next week’s Zurich Classic of New Orleans.

He has yet to nab a top 25, but has successfully played the weekend in three of his eight appearances. Merrick last competed in this event in 2010 where he tied for 59th. He ranks a respectable 42nd in ball-striking, but the problems have come with the putter, where he ranks 168th in total putting.

Merrick’s day was perfect with the exception of a double-bogey six at the 12th hole. Otherwise, he was blemish-free with four birdies. He split half of his 14 fairways and held 12 GIR en route to his second runner-up finish on the PGA TOUR. He ended the week 11th in Strokes Gained-Putting and tied for 12th in GIR at 8-under 272. He is not in the published field for the U.S. Open.

Merrick hasn’t finished worse than last year’s T25 in four appearances at Montreux Golf and Country Club. His other three finishes are top 10s, so course history is very much relevant for the 30-year-old. Overall, he’s hit 23 greens but needed just 50 putts en route to 12 birdies.

Merrick split eight (of 14) fairways, landed 11 GIR and needed 27 putts to navigate the TPC Southwind in a round where he circled three birdies and squared two bogeys. Essential for getting to the clubhouse, he gained over three strokes putting during his third round. Not only has he yet to win on TOUR, Merrick has yet to find his way inside the top 25 this season making Sunday an important day. With inclement weather a threat on Sunday, early tee times have been set. Merrick is scheduled to go off the first tee at 8:54 a.m. CT with his fellow co-leaders.

Merrick hit two fewer greens today (11) and still required as many putts as he did in the opener (28). He swallowed one fewer bogey but also managed only two birdies today versus a set of six on Thursday.

Merrick missed the cut in The Barclays, but did just enough work in the regular season to earn a tee time at TPC Boston. His best finish at the Deutsche Bank was a T33 in 2008, and he’s since missed the cut in his two subsequent appearances in 2009 and 2011. His form heading into last week’s Barclays was solid, coming off of back-to-back top 15s. He enters the week 12th in ball-striking, but 160th in total putting.