Troy Merritt captured the 2010 Kodak Challenge today in a sudden-death play-off on Kodak Challenge hole No. 17 at the Children's Miracle Network Classic.
Merritt defeated Rickie Fowler and Aaron Baddeley in a one-hole playoff at Disney's Magnolia Course in Lake Buena Vista, Fla., to take home the $1 million winner-takes-all Kodak Challenge prize.
Once the tournament concluded, co-leaders Merritt, Fowler and Baddeley lined up on the Kodak Challenge hole for the sudden death playoff. The lights set up along the hole weren't needed, as Merritt made quick work of the playoff. The rookie from Boise State landed his 133-yard approach to 18 inches.
After Fowler and Baddeley each missed long birdie putts, Merritt calmly buried the short putt to secure the Kodak Challenge victory and the winner-takes-all $1 million prize.
Merritt entered the tournament with a one-stroke lead in the Kodak Challenge competition, but later yielded a share of the lead to Baddeley and Fowler, who each birdied the hole this week to move into the first place tie. The Kodak Challenge win capped an exciting day for Merritt, who earlier in the day secured his PGA TOUR card for 2011, finishing 125th on the money list.
Now in its second season, the Kodak Challenge celebrates beautiful holes and memorable moments on the PGA TOUR and challenges players to perform their best on 30 designated Kodak Challenge holes. The player with the lowest cumulative score on his best 18 Kodak Challenge holes wins the $1 million. The 485-yard, par-4 17th on the Magnolia Course was the 30th and final hole of the 2010 Kodak Challenge season.
"The tight race between Troy Merritt, Rickie Fowler and Aaron Baddeley set up the picture perfect ending to a wonderful season. We're excited for Troy Merritt and very happy to have him associated with Kodak," said Steve Powell, director of sports marketing at Kodak.
"The Kodak Challenge is a unique and compelling competition for players and fans and reflects both the heritage of our brand and the continued innovation of the new Kodak. The success of the Kodak Challenge is due to the hard work of many people; from our own Kodak team members, to great partners like our friends here at Disney and the Children's Miracle Network Classic."
"The Kodak Challenge has been a great program for the PGA TOUR, bringing an additional element of excitement for tournaments, fans and players to 30 PGA TOUR events this year," said Tom Wade, PGA TOUR executive vice president and chief marketing officer. "We look forward to continued growth of the Kodak Challenge in 2011."
The 2011 Kodak Challenge season will commence on January 6 on hole #18 at the Hyundai Tournament of Champions at Kapalua Resort in Maui, HI. The entire 30-hole 2011 Kodak Challenge schedule will be released in the next few weeks.
