John Merrick off to another hot start in Mayakoba Classic at Riviera Maya

From WorldGolf.com News Services

For a second consecutive year, John Merrick has gotten off to a red-hot start in the Mayakoba Classic at Riviera Maya. This time around, the 26-year-old California native hopes to make an impressive opening round stick.

Merrick tied his career best with a 6-under-par 64 Thursday in first-round play at El Camaleon Golf Club. Closing by sinking a 50-foot birdie putt on his final hole, Merrick owns a one-stroke lead over Larry Mize, Robert Damron, David Lutterus and Kenneth Ferrie in the second-year PGA Tour event.

"It was a great day out there," Merrick told reporters. "It was one of those days where everything kind of went your way and it was fun."

Starting on the back nine, Merrick made back-to-back birdies on Nos. 12 and 13, as well as Nos. 17-18, to make the turn at 4-under. He followed with another birdie at No. 1 and closed with his 50-foot bomb for a birdie at No. 9, completing his bogey-free effort.

Merrick said he's not celebrating anything yet in the 72-hole event. After all, he opened with a 64 last year, shot 69 in the second round and then carded 73-74 on the weekend to finish tied for 48th place.

However, Merrick said he feels better about his chances of staying near the top and producing a more consistent effort this time around.

"I feel like last year when I opened with 64, it was kind of a, not like a lucky round, but there are rounds where you get really good breaks and you make like a lot of long putts," said Merrick, who has made the cut in three of four PGA Tour starts this year, including one top-25 finish. "You might chip in a couple of times and it's goofy. It's not like you hit every green."

Merrick said he felt better that Thursday's round was more solid than his previous 64 in the event.

"I hit a lot of greens and a lot of good shots, and even missed some more potential birdies today," Merrick said.

Making just his fifth PGA Tour start in the past four years and his second of 2008, Greg Norman appeared to be the story for much of his round. Playing on the course he designed, the Australian used a birdie binge to climb as high as fifth on the leaderboard after getting to 4-under through 10 holes.

But Norman's concentration wavered at No. 16, when he needed two shots to get out of the sand and took a double bogey. On the ensuing hole, he made a three-putt bogey from 12 feet.

Norman went on to shoot even-par 70 and is tied for 39th.

"I pretty much let a good one get away," Norman told the Associated Press. "You need the feel for tournament play and I don't have it. At the end of the day, I did hit some quality shots out there, so you know they're still in the system."

John Daly shot 4-under 66 and heads a group of three players tied for sixth, along with Brian Gay and Tommy Gainey. A group of 11 players are tied for ninth at 3-under 67.

Defending champion Fred Funk shot a first-round 73 and is tied for 94th. Last year, he opened with a course-record 62 on his way to the victory, becoming just the second player to win a PGA Tour event after earning a Champions Tour win.

Merrick said he just hopes his golf can equal what he already considers a great week.

"I'm down here with my fiancé and we are staying at the resort, the Fairmont, a beautiful hotel," Merrick said. "The people here are so nice. The service is great. It's just a fun week

"We went out by the beach the last couple of days, had some margaritas. Maybe I'm just more relaxed down here or something, but I'm having a great time."

February 22, 2008