Troy Brian Merritt Bio
Troy Brian Merritt, born on October 25, 1985, is an American professional golfer who has competed on the PGA Tour and the Korn Ferry Tour. He is a two-time winner on the PGA Tour, with his most recent victory coming at the 2018 Barbasol Championship. Standing 6 feet 0 inches tall and weighing 160 pounds, Merritt has built his career around steady ball-striking and the ability to post low rounds when his game clicks.
Merritt turned professional in 2008 and currently resides in Boise, Idaho, with his family. He reached a career-best Official World Golf Ranking of 82 in March 2016 and has remained a familiar presence on PGA Tour leaderboards through a mix of contending performances and made cuts in major championships.
Early Life and Background
Troy Brian Merritt was born in Osage, Iowa, and grew up with strong Midwestern roots. His family later moved to Minnesota, where he attended Spring Lake Park High School and developed his game on the competitive high school golf circuit. That move set the stage for a serious commitment to the sport and gave him access to a stronger year-round playing environment than his Iowa hometown could offer.
After high school, Merritt played college golf at Winona State University, where he spent his first two collegiate seasons. He then transferred to Boise State University, a program known for producing professional talent. At Boise State he was named first-team All-Western Athletic Conference and tied the school record for a low round when he carded a 62 in the second round of the District VII Shootout. Those performances signaled that he was ready for the next level.
Path to Professional Golf
Merritt turned professional in 2008 and began working his way up through the developmental ranks. His first professional victory came on September 6, 2009, when he captured the Nationwide Tour’s Mexico Open, beating Australia’s Adam Bland with a 20-foot birdie putt on the first hole of a playoff. The win earned him a purse of $117,000 and validated his decision to leave the amateur game.
On December 7, 2009, Merritt became only the third golfer to medal at the PGA Tour Qualifying Tournament by leading after every round. Despite a double-bogey on the final hole of the six-round event, he finished at 22-under-par and won by one stroke over veteran Jeff Maggert. In 2010 he finished 125th on the PGA Tour money list, earning the final spot to retain his tour card for the following season and cementing his place among the game’s full-time competitors.
Troy Brian Merritt Career
Early Career (2008-2014)
Merritt’s earliest professional seasons were spent splitting time between the Nationwide Tour and the PGA Tour, learning how to handle the travel demands and pressure of professional golf. His 2009 Nationwide Tour victory and PGA Tour Qualifying Tournament medal provided the foundation for full-time PGA Tour status beginning in 2010.
Through the early 2010s, Merritt worked to refine his game and chase consistency. He made occasional cuts and picked up experience on demanding courses, gradually establishing himself as a reliable presence on Tour. Those developmental years shaped the patience that would later define his breakthrough campaigns.
PGA Tour Breakthrough (2015)
The 2015 season marked Merritt’s arrival as a PGA Tour winner. On April 17, 2015, he tied the course record at the Heritage on Hilton Head Island with a 10-under-par 61, matching a mark David Frost had set in 1994. He finished the tournament alone in third place behind Jim Furyk and Kevin Kisner, earning $401,200 and a surge of confidence heading into the summer.
Merritt then recorded his first PGA Tour victory at the 2015 Quicken Loans National. He set the course record at Robert Trent Jones Golf Club with a 61 in the third round and held off all challengers to win by three shots at 18-under 266. The breakthrough cemented his Tour status and signaled that low rounds were becoming a signature of his game.
Second PGA Tour Win (2018)
Merritt won his second PGA Tour event at the 2018 Barbasol Championship. He opened with a 62 and closed with a final-round 67 to claim a one-stroke victory, with the tournament finishing on the Monday after weather delays disrupted the schedule. The win reaffirmed his ability to contend when his ball-striking was sharp.
Eleven days after that victory, Merritt underwent emergency surgery to remove a blood clot that stretched from his chest into his bicep. The health scare served as a reminder of the physical demands of professional golf, and his return to competition demonstrated the resilience that has characterized his career.
Rocket Mortgage Classic Run (2021)
In July 2021, Merritt shot 18-under par for 72 holes at the Rocket Mortgage Classic and tied Cameron Davis and Joaquín Niemann for the lead. Niemann was eliminated with a bogey on the first playoff hole. Merritt ultimately bogeyed the fifth playoff hole and Davis won with a par, leaving Merritt as the runner-up in one of the most dramatic finishes of the PGA Tour season.
Continued PGA Tour Competition (2022-Present)
Following the 2021 playoff loss, Merritt continued to compete on the PGA Tour and split time with the Korn Ferry Tour. He has maintained his Tour card through consistent play and steady form, including a tied for 41st finish at the 2022 PGA Championship. His longevity underscores the value of experience and the work ethic that carried him from the Nationwide Tour to a career-best world ranking of 82 in March 2016.
Notable Events and Milestones
Merritt’s career is defined by a series of signature low rounds. His 61 at the 2015 Heritage matched a tournament course record, his 61 in the third round of the 2015 Quicken Loans National set a Robert Trent Jones Golf Club course record, and his opening 62 at the 2018 Barbasol Championship launched him toward his second PGA Tour title. Each of those rounds highlighted his ability to go low when conditions and confidence aligned.
Troy Brian Merritt Career Wins
Merritt has recorded three professional victories across his career, with two coming on the PGA Tour and one on what is now the Korn Ferry Tour. His PGA Tour wins came at the 2015 Quicken Loans National and the 2018 Barbasol Championship, while his developmental victory came at the 2009 Mexico Open on the Nationwide Tour. Those results place him among a select group of players who have won on both the PGA Tour and the Korn Ferry Tour.
PGA Tour Highlights
Merritt’s first PGA Tour win came at the 2015 Quicken Loans National, where he set the Robert Trent Jones Golf Club course record with a 61 in the third round and won by three shots at 18-under 266. His second PGA Tour win came at the 2018 Barbasol Championship, where he opened with a 62 and closed with a 67 to win by one stroke on a weather-delayed Monday finish. Both wins demonstrated his comfort on layouts that rewarded aggressive, low-scoring golf.
Korn Ferry Tour Highlights
Merritt’s Korn Ferry Tour victory came at the 2009 Mexico Open, which he won in a playoff over Adam Bland with a 20-foot birdie putt on the first extra hole. The result earned him $117,000 and gave him the momentum he carried into the PGA Tour Qualifying Tournament later that year.
Troy Brian Merritt Family
Family Background and Personal Life
Merritt was born in Osage, Iowa, and later moved with his family to Minnesota, where he attended Spring Lake Park High School. His college path, which included time at Winona State University before transferring to Boise State University, reflected a willingness to chase the right competitive fit for his golf game.
Merritt currently resides in Boise, Idaho, with his wife, Courtney Achter, and their two sons. The family has remained based in Idaho throughout much of his professional career, providing a stable home environment that supports his travels on the PGA Tour and Korn Ferry Tour.
2025 Season Performance
Heading into the 2025 season, Merritt continues to balance his schedule between the PGA Tour and the Korn Ferry Tour, working to retain full playing privileges at the top level. His experience on both circuits gives him a flexible platform, and his track record of low rounds suggests he remains a threat on courses that reward aggressive scoring.
The 2025 campaign places an emphasis on consistency, course management, and finishing high enough in events to earn FedExCup points and secure his Tour card for the following year. With veteran status and a calm demeanor, Merritt is positioned to be a steady presence in the field while still chasing another signature win.
Looking ahead, the outlook for Merritt in 2025 is built on the same foundation that has fueled his career: competitive ball-striking, course-record potential, and the ability to handle pressure-packed weeks. If his health holds and his form stays consistent, he has every opportunity to add to his professional win total and extend his run on the PGA Tour.
