Merritt undergoes emergency surgery to remove blood clot

Troy Merritt underwent emergency surgery to remove a large blood clot from his left arm Friday, two weeks after winning the Barbasol Championship, according to Rex Hoggard of Golf Channel.

The 32-year-old, who returned to his home in Idaho after last week's Canadian Open, said he's experienced pain in his arm for about a month. An ultrasound revealed the clot stretched from his chest down to his biceps.

Merritt remains optimistic about participating in next week's PGA Championship at Bellerive Country Club in St. Louis, Mo.

"I plan on making the trip and see how my body does each day," Merritt said. "I'm still planning on teeing it up come Thursday morning."

If he is healthy enough to play, it will be Merritt's third appearance at a PGA Championship.