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2021 John Deere Classic: Top 10 power rankings at TPC Deere Run

By Mike Randleman

SILVIS, IL - JULY 11: A miniature John Deere tractor is used as a tee marker at the 7th hole during the final round of the John Deere Classic at TPC Deere Run on July 11, 2010 in Silvis, Illinois. (Photo by Darren Carroll/Getty Images)
SILVIS, IL - JULY 11: A miniature John Deere tractor is used as a tee marker at the 7th hole during the final round of the John Deere Classic at TPC Deere Run on July 11, 2010 in Silvis, Illinois. (Photo by Darren Carroll/Getty Images) /
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Jul 4, 2021; Detroit, Michigan, USA; Troy Merritt lines up a putt on the 14th green during the final round of the Rocket Mortgage Classic golf tournament. Mandatory Credit: Raj Mehta-USA TODAY Sports
Jul 4, 2021; Detroit, Michigan, USA; Troy Merritt lines up a putt on the 14th green during the final round of the Rocket Mortgage Classic golf tournament. Mandatory Credit: Raj Mehta-USA TODAY Sports /

Troy Merritt played his way into the final pairing with Joaquin Niemann Sunday at the Rocket Mortgage Classic. The two shared a one-shot lead and remained deadlock after regulation.

Unfortunately for the two, Cam Davis also joined the playoff. Davis dispatched of Niemann after one hole and Merritt after five.

Merritt looked shaky on the front nine Sunday before making birdie on four of his last six playoff holes. He battled to make par on the first four playoff holes before burning the edge for par on the fifth.

Ultimately, it wasn’t the putter that did him in in Detroit. He was second in the field in strokes gained putting (1.81) and is 43rd on the season (.361).

“…that’s what you’ve got to do out here against these guys. I keep grinding. You never know when you’re going to make a few putts to get yourself back in it,” Merritt was transcribed by Tee Scripts. “We were able to do that on the back side today; unfortunately, we came up just one short.”

Merritt should be comfortable putting on bentgrass greens this week having grown up in cooler climes.

Merritt was oh so close to earning his third career PGA Tour win. He was in the 60s all four days en route to his fourth top-10 of the season. All four have come since May.

The Boise State alum picked up back-to-back top-10s in Texas this spring. Merritt comes to the John Deere Classic on a streak of six made cuts.

That’s a good sign for a Midwesterner whose resume at this event leaves a little bit to be desired.

The Osage, Iowa, native grew up in Spring Lake Park, Minnesota. He nearly won in Minnesota at the 2019 3M Open. Now, it’s time to contend at TPC Deere Run.

Merritt’s made four of eight cuts in Silvis highlighted by T-20th (68-70-66-68) in 2014.

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