Merritt was born in Osage, Iowa, but moved to Minnesota and played high school golf at Spring Lake Park.

[3] Merritt's first win on the Nationwide Tour came on September 6, 2009 when he won a $117,000 purse at the Mexico Open, beating Australia's Adam Bland with a 20-foot birdie putt on the first hole of a playoff.

On April 17, 2015, Merritt tied the course record at the Heritage on Hilton Head Island with a 10-under-par 61, matching David Frost's tournament mark set in 1994.

[10] Eleven days after his win Merritt underwent emergency surgery to remove a blood clot that stretched from his chest into his bicep.

[11] In July 2021, Merritt shot 18-under par for 72 holes to tie with Cameron Davis and Joaquín Niemann for the lead at the Rocket Mortgage Classic.