PLAYA DEL CARMEN, Mexico -- First-round leader John Merrick tied his career low on the PGA TOUR with a 6-under-par 64 on Thursday. Merrick shot an identical 64 last year in the first round at the Mayakoba Golf Classic en route to a tie for 48th finish.
• He also posted a 64 in the second round at the 2007 Crowne Plaza Invitational at Colonial, but missed the cut. Last year's first-round leader and eventual champion Fred Funk shot an opening 8-under-par 62.
• In his rookie season in 2007, John Merrick finished 135th on the PGA TOUR money list but regained his status through the PGA TOUR Qualifying School, where he tied for 23rd. Merrick's best finish on TOUR was a tie for fourth at the 2007 Reno-Tahoe Open, and his best finish thus far in 2008 was a tie for 16th at the Bob Hope Chrysler Classic.
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