Merrick Fails to Maintain Momentum

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Then he went out and shot a 2-over-par 72 yesterday.
Merrick couldn't follow Friday's 64, which tied for the second-bestscore during the AT&T National's second round. Instead, Merrickopened weekend play by posting the worst score of his three days at Congressional Country Club , and he wasn't sure why.
"That's what's so crazy about it," Merrick said. "Ididn't feel that different at all. It's just one or two shots atthe wrong time, and the momentum can really turn against you. If Iknew what it was, I wouldn't be doing it."
If he knew, he would have avoided problems on the par-4 No. 11.Sitting at 4 under, Merrick's drive crashed into a mound of weedsleft of the fairway. Moments later, he approached his ball, studiedit, took a strong swing and slumped as the ball dribbled about 20yards forward, still stuck in tall grass. From there, he madedouble bogey.
"Number 11 was the dagger for today," Merrick said."You have to hit the fairway. You can't hit it left.
"It's just one of those days."
It was one of those days when he started well but couldn't maintainhis momentum. He birdied the par-3 No. 2, where he spun his secondshot inches from the hole. Then, on the par-4 No. 3, his troublesbegan. He crushed his second shot into tall grass left of thegreen. On his third stroke, the rough caught his iron and made theball stop short of the fringe. He bogeyed, and pursed his lips ashe turned his back from the pin.
From there, shots that fell Friday escaped him. Friday's roundincluded four birdies and two eagles, but he managed just threebirdies yesterday. His card included three bogeys to go along withthe double at No. 11, and he only shrugged as he searched for anexplanation.
"It's such a fine line between what I shot yesterday and a72," Merrick said. "It's just a couple shots here andthere, momentum and a couple putts. Yeah, it's a crazy game."
Said Jeff Maggert, Merrick's playing partner: "Whenever youpost a score, it's sometimes hard to keep the momentum going. Heplayed well at times today, but we both struggled."
Merrick didn't struggle Friday. He became a gallery favorite on thefront nine, where he finished the final five holes at 5 under,including an eagle on the par-5 ninth. After the flurry, he beganthe third round four shots behind leaders Jeff Overton and Tom Pernice, Jr.
When things weren't going as well yesterday, Merrick maintained hiscomposure. He stood erect after errant shots, rarely showingdispleasure. When a birdie putt failed to fall on the par-4 No. 12,he swept his right hand but didn't say a word.
"I did my best with each shot," Merrick said."Whatever happened, I accepted it and moved on. I've beendoing that all week. I'm still in there."