Daniel Berger Breaks Through For First Tour Win in Memphis
- Dan Hauser
- 13 Jun, 2016
Daniel Berger was in an interesting situation entering the 2015-2016 season. While he had a successful rookie campaign, winning Rookie of the Year honors, Berger missed out on a win in his maiden campaign, finishing runner up at both the Honda Classic and BMW Championship.
The fact that he won Rookie of the Year without a win has been a sore spot for the Jupiter resident. So, during a weather delay Sunday, when Phil Mickelson was ribbing him for it, you had to figure that it would light a spark underneath him coming down the stretch. Thanks to three birdies during a four hole stretch on the back nine, Berger did just that holding off Phil, Brooks Koepka, and Steve Stricker to get his first win on the PGA Tour.
”To do that with so many great players, Hall of Famers behind me, it’s something that I’ll never forget and I just love the way I hung in there and was able to get it done,” Berger said.
After Mickelson tried to get in Berger’s head during the delay, he came out and tried to do the same on the course, getting to within 1 shot of Berger on the back nine. Berger responded with birdies on three of his next four holes, highlighted by a 32-foot putt on the par-3 14th that pushed his lead to 13 under.
Berger was the 13th first time winner on Tour this season and did it at an event which is quickly becoming synonymous with first time winners. Berger was fourth first-time winner at this event in the past six years and 10th overall.
While history is not on Berger’s side heading into the U.S. Open, the 23 year old is confident heading to Oakmont.
”When I played in the Masters for the first time I think I finished 10th, five shots behind and didn’t really play that great,” Berger said. ”So, you know if I can go in there next week and play good, then obviously I have what it takes to get the W.”
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About Dan Hauser
As an avid golfer and sports enthusiast, Dan has had a passion for sports starting at a very young age. Dan’s other passion has always been writing. Since the time he could write, he has always enjoyed sharing information with people and telling stories through writing. In middle school he combined his two loves by joining the school newspaper in the sports department.
