Merritt shares leads in Virginia

Troy Merritt carded a tournament-record 61 on day three to move into a two-way tie for first in the Quickens Loans National.

The American started his third round in joint-35th but produced a sensational performance to climb up the leaderboard and move into contention for his first PGA Tour win.

The 29-year-old fired in 11 birdies and just the one bogey for a 10-under-par score to sit alongside fellow compatriot Kevin Chappell on -14, with the latter hitting a four-under 67.

The leading duo will take a one-shot advantage into the final day over Players Championship winner Rickie Fowler, who is alone in third place after a three-under-par 68.

Four players are in a tie for fourth with Sweden’s David Lingmerth, South Korea’s Whee Kim and the American pair of Jason Bohn and Charles Howell III all two strokes off the lead.

Elsewhere, there was frustration for former world number one Tiger Woods, who started the third day on -8, as a three-over 74 saw the 79-time PGA Tour winner slip down to a tie for 42nd.

The 39-year-old, who was superb around the greens, struggled off the tee and admitted the whole performance was frustrating.

“Basically it was a fight all day,” he said. “It felt like that hook was coming in and fought through it the best I could. I was waiting for the one moment, the one shot. I couldn’t find it.”

Tagged PGA Tour, Quickens Loans National, Troy Merritt