Troy Merritt scores first PGA Tour victory at Quicken Loans National

Posting a tournament-record score of 18-under-par 266, Troy Merritt won the Quicken Loans National by three shots Sunday at Gainesville, Va.

The timing for Merritt’s first career PGA Tour was a shock: He missed the cut in each of his previous five events and seven of the previous nine.

The 29-year-old earned $1.2 million for the victory, about half of his prior PGA Tour career winnings. He was participating in his 96th career PGA Tour event, and only once before did he lead or co-lead after the third round. That was at the RBC Heritage earlier this year, and he finished in third that weekend.

Merritt closed with a 4-under 67 at Robert Trent Jones Golf Club. Rickie Fowler shot a 69 to finish in second at 269. David Lingmerth of Sweden also closed with a 69, and he came in third at 270.

Defending champion Justin Rose of England (final-round 70), Justin Thomas (67), New Zealand’s Danny Lee (69), Bill Haas (70), Sweden’s Carl Pettersson (70) and Jason Bohn (71) shared fourth place at 272. Japan’s Ryo Ishikawa (71) wound up in 10th place at 273.

Tiger Woods finished with a 68, his third round in the 60s of the week, and he tied for 18th place at 276.

Merritt opened and closed his final round with birdies. In between, he made three birdies and just one bogey.

Though he was safely in front heading to the 72nd hole, Merritt curled in a 34-foot putt to close out the win. After the ball sank into the hole, Merritt waved his hat to the gallery.

Merritt charged into contention Saturday with a tournament-record 61. After two rounds, he was tied for 35th, but his sizzling weekend put him over the top.

Fowler’s up-and-down final round included five bogeys and seven birdies. He played the last five holes in 3-under par, including a 23-foot birdie putt at No. 18.