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Merritt welcomes final-round challenge

By Stephen Fastenau
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HILTON HEAD, S.C. -- Troy Merritt is good for a laugh, whether about his attire or his play, but he admitted to some fear Saturday.

A big cushion after a record day Friday left him time to think. And it won't get any better after Merritt completed a 2-under-par 69 to reach 14 under at the RBC Heritage Presented by Boeing.

He leads by three, his first 54-hole lead on the PGA Tour. Brendon Todd, Kevin Kisner and Matt Kuchar are 11 under.

The fear will be present, but welcome.

"It's not a bad fear; it's the fear of being caught," said Merritt, whose course record-tying 61 on Friday gave him the lead. "And I think it's worked for me in the past."

The chase won't be the only thing to keep an eye on. With poor weather expected, players will form groups of three and tee times were moved up. Merritt, Todd and Kisner will go off No. 1 at 9:30 a.m.

Merritt said he liked the tee time, but any delays could create more time to think on the lead.

He has won on the amateur level and six years ago on what was then the Nationwide Tour. But he hasn't broken through on the big tour.

And if recent history is an indication, he should watch his back Sunday.

Kuchar came from four shots behind to win in 2014.

Graeme McDowell was five shots back during his 2013 victory.

Perhaps Merritt's best test before Sunday was a second-place finish in Memphis, a final-round 71 not enough to catch Ben Crane.

But he wasn't in the final group.

"It will be nice to see what everybody is doing, see what the guys in my group are doing, the guys closest to me," Merritt said. "Put as much pressure on them as I can and make them try and take the risks."

Merritt, paired with Kuchar, enjoyed the company Saturday.

The group shook off a couple of tough holes -- Kuchar a double bogey on No. 7 and Merritt splashing his approach on 8 for another double.

Kuchar's 3-under 68 included a string of impressive par saves. And when Merritt turned in a good shot, Kuchar was there with a compliment.

Kuchar said he has known Merritt for a while, including some friends who have caddied for him in the past. The praise had a purpose.

"He wants you to do well, because he wants to beat you, and that means he has to play well," Merritt said.

Kuchar was pressing for a birdie on one of the final three holes to reach the final group. He said he hit the ball better than he had all week.

His approach to the par-3 seventh caught a tree and dropped down. He left his chip short, leading to double.

"It was flag hunting, and there's a tree that hangs out over the green protecting that," Kuchar said. "And it was like a Dikembe Mutombo swat away from the basket."

Kuchar believes he still has a chance. His final-round 64 to win last year came from outside the final group.

Past champion Jim Furyk is another shot back at 10 under, and Jordan Spieth still has a chance to become the first to win the Masters and Heritage in consecutive weeks since Bernard Langer in 1985.

The weather is the wild card.

"Know that it's going to be wet," Furyk said. "That could allow a lot of guys to be aggressive, as long as it's not windy."

This article was written by Stephen Fastenau from The Island Packet Online and was legally licensed through the NewsCred publisher network.