FORT WORTH, TEXAS – JUNE 14: Daniel Berger of the United States celebrates with the plaid jacket and Leonard Trophy after defeating Collin Morikawa of the United States in a playoff during the final round of the Charles Schwab Challenge on June 14, 2020 at Colonial Country Club in Fort Worth, Texas. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)
FORT WORTH, Texas, June 15: Daniel Berger looked healthier than he has been in a long time as the Tour made a healthy return to competition at the Charles Schwab Challenge.
There were a lot of positives as none of the Covid tests were positive; the field played great golf and the result came after close final round and a play-off. The last man left standing was the man, who ironically seemed to have been trending right before Covid halted the Tour.
Berger closed with a 4-under 66, his 28th consecutive round at par or better dating to October 11, 2019 at the Houston Open. He beat on the first play-off hole, Collin Morikawa, who has now made 21 straight cuts since his pro debut. Morikawa now chases Tiger Woods’ record of 25 made cuts after turning por.
Berger saved par from behind the 17th green on the first playoff hole and won when Morikawa missed a 3-foot par putt. Earlier, Morikawa also missed a birdie putt from 6 feet on the 18th hole in a 67.
Berger’s win ahead of some of the best players in the world at the Charles Schwab Challenge, was around the corner for he has not missed a cut in 2020.
He was trending nicely – T39 at Sony Open, T-28 at American Express and then T-9 at Phoenix Open, T-5 at Pebble Beach and T-4 at Honda. He started the PLAYERS with a four-under 68, but it got cancelled after that. With no more golf for next three month, that competitive edge could well have disappeared, just when it seemed to be coming around well after a long period of injuries.
When things re-started three months later at the Colonial, Berger was playing like he was before the Covid interruption. Playing steadily all through the week with rounds of 65-67-67-66, he shot 15-under to be tied with ‘newbie’ Collin Morikawa, who missed a putt inside five feet in regulation on 18thand then again from three feet in the first play-off hole to hand Berger, the Leonard Trophy, a Belt Buckle saying “Welcome to the West” and a cheque of $ 1.35m.
Berger loves second week of June
Berger was born in July, but he loves June. All three of his wins have come in June – not just that but very specifically in the second week of June. His previous wins were the 2016 FedEx St. Jude Classic and the 2017 FedEx St. Jude Classic.
More than half a dozen players jostled for the lead as they played to empty galleries as the PGA TOUR is not allowing spectators for the opening five events in its return.
Yet the finish was electric and as the PGA TOUR Commissioner Jay Monahan said, “This has been a phenomenal start to our return.”
Missed putts on the 18th
As player after player missed clutch putts on the 18th, Berger was the only one to make a 10-foot birdie on the final hole that put him at 15-under 265.
Talking of Morikawa’s loss, Berger said, “It’s going to hurt for a little while, but he’ll get over it and he’ll be winning again.”
Xander Schauffele had his chances as did many others. Schauffele found water on the 15th and took a penalty but hit a poor chip but made a 30-footer to get away with a bogey. A 25-foot birdie helped him regain a share of the lead. A 3-foot par putt on the 17th hole dipped in and out. He had a 25-foot birdie putt to join the playoff but it was just short and he shot 69 to be stranded one behind.
Bryson DeChambeau (66) saw his 12-foot birdie putt miss narrowly on the 18th and Justin Rose’s (66) 18-foot birdie on the last hole was heart-breakingly short. Jason Kokrak (64) finished way earlier but he also missed a birdie on the 18lth.
On coming back form injury, Berger said, “I mean, you just never really know if you’re going to be in the same position again, so to be able to come out here and beat so many of the best players in the world, you look at the field that was out here this week, and I don’t have a stellar playoff record, so to show up here and obviously I didn’t want to win it like that, but sometimes that’s just the way golf works.
“There was so many times today where I could have given it up or let the pressure get to me, but I hung in there and I played practically some of the best golf I’ve played the last six years the last five holes today.
About the mental aspect of coming after three months and winning, he added, “I’m just so proud of the way that I battled today and proud of how much work I’ve put in over the last couple weeks and even in the last year. It’s finally paying off, so I’m just really excited.
“I just tried to stay as level as possible. I knew that I played three really good days of golf, and if I could do it one more time then I’d have a great chance, and before the round started I thought that 15 would be a good number to be at, and the last five holes, they’re not easy, and I played those holes probably the best I’ve played any of the holes this week. Just really excited to be in this position. Again, it’s been a while.”
Jordan Spieth (71) was in the run till his tee shot went out of bounds on the 14thand finished 10th. Rory McIlroy, coming with Top-5s in last seven starts shot 74 and ended T-32ndas did Brooks Koepka. Jon Rahm and Dustin Johnson missed the cut.
The next stop is the RBC Heritage at Hilton Head on the South Carolina coast. The players headed to RBC Heritage on a charter were tested again after the third round and the others will be tested when they arrived at Hilton Head.
