Daniel Berger had a great 2014-2015 season. His first on the PGA Tour, he played in 31 events, finished in the top 25 thirteen times, had six top tens, placed second on two occasions, made it all the way to the Tour Championship where he finished T12 and made over three million dollars. He was named Rookie of the Year. But he didn’t win.
That all changed today as the twenty three year old tour sophomore played more like a forty three year old veteran and won the FedEx St. Jude Classic.
After a nervous bogey to start Berger settled down and played solid, winning golf while some of the biggest names in the game tried to catch him.
Berger started the day with a three shot lead and after he gave one back, and a three hour rain delay the assault on his lead started.
Dustin Johnson chipped in on eighteen to shoot a new back nine record 29 and post nine under par.
Part timer, Steve Stricker mounted a bit of a charge as did his playing partner Phil Mickelson. Both shot three under 67 but couldn’t sink any birdie putts when they needed to.
Long hitting Brooks Koepka had a chance but his approach on twelve rolled through the green into the water and while he added two more birdies his 66 still fell short.
Because for all the attempts at catching Berger there was a needed ingredient that was missing. Berger needed to back up. But the youngster looked more like a seasoned winner out there then a twenty-something trying to notch his first tour win.
A solid front nine of 34 still had him in the lead but he wasn’t pulling away. He faltered at the tenth when he missed the fairway and had to take three to get on the green. He settled for a two putt bogey but soon put his game into high gear.
Birdies at twelve, thirteen and fourteen got him to thirteen under par and back to his three shot lead and while Mickelson and company vainly tried to catch him, he split fairways, hit greens and sank putts to close out the deal.
Berger is the thirteenth first time winner on tour this season and another of the young players that have laid siege to the older veterans on the PGA Tour.
To say Berger was thrilled would be an understatement. ”It’s the greatest feeling,” he said. ”You work so hard to get here and to finally be able to put the trophy up, there’s no way I can describe it.”
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