western ' s ▁all - time ▁stroke ▁average , ▁at ▁ 7 4 . 2 7 . ▁ ▁In ▁ 2 0 0 8 , ▁playing ▁in ▁Argentina ▁in ▁the ▁ 1 1 th ▁Pan ▁American ▁Mac c abi ▁Games , ▁he ▁won ▁two ▁gold ▁med als ; ▁both ▁in ▁the ▁individual ▁competition , ▁and ▁with ▁the ▁U . S . ▁team ▁in ▁the ▁team ▁competition . ▁In ▁ 2 0 1 0 ▁he ▁was ▁playing ▁in ▁the ▁N GA ▁H oot ers ▁Tour . ▁ ▁Early ▁life ▁and ▁high ▁school ▁Mer kow ▁was ▁born ▁in ▁Boston , ▁Massachusetts , ▁and ▁grew ▁up ▁in ▁Hart land , ▁Wisconsin , ▁ ▁from ▁Mil w au kee . ▁His ▁grand father ▁taught ▁him ▁how ▁to ▁play ▁golf . ▁In ▁August ▁ 2 0 0 0 , ▁he ▁won ▁the ▁World ▁Junior ▁Masters ▁tournament ▁boys ▁ 1 4 – 1 5 ▁division ▁with ▁a ▁ 2 2 7 . ▁In ▁August ▁ 2 0 0 2 , ▁he ▁won ▁the ▁American ▁Junior ▁G olf ▁Association ' s ▁S LI ▁Junior ▁Classic ▁boys ▁division ▁in ▁New ▁Se ab ury , ▁Massachusetts , ▁with ▁a ▁ 2 1 2 ▁( 2 ▁over ▁par ). ▁ ▁In ▁Ar row head ▁Union ▁High ▁School ▁in ▁Hart land , ▁he ▁was ▁co - Capt ain ▁of ▁the ▁golf ▁team ▁in ▁his ▁senior ▁year , ▁and ▁was ▁a ▁two - time ▁all - state ▁hon ore e ▁( as ▁a ▁junior ▁and ▁senior , ▁in ▁ 2 0 0 2 ▁and ▁