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PGA Tour: consistent Daniel Berger Claims Charles Schwab Challege win

By Tim Letcher

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 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) /
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The PGA Tour returned with the Charles Schwab Challenge at Colonial Country Club and Daniel Berger emerged from a talented field as the winner

This week’s Charles Schwab Challenge was not only the return of the PGA Tour. It also turned out to be a wonderful finish that included a playoff between Daniel Berger and Collin Morikawa.

The tournament easily could have ended earlier. Berger made a clutch birdie putt on the 72nd hole just to get into the playoff. Meanwhile, Morikawa missed a short putt on his final hole that ultimately would have won the tournament for him. If either of those things don’t happen, it’s over in regulation.

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In the playoff, Berger got up and down from behind the green and Morikawa nearly did the same before his putt lipped out, handing Berger the win. It was a tough loss for the 23-year-old Morikawa but one that Berger will gladly take.

For Berger, it was his third PGA Tour win and first since 2017. It’s also the first win since Berger suffered a thumb injury that cost him four months from 2018-19. He went three months without using his hand at all and was unsure that he would be able to make a return. Thankfully, he did.

In a field that included the world’s top five players and 16 of the top 20, it was Berger who was the most consistent all week long

He shot a 5-under par 65 on Thursday, followed by a 3-under par 67 on Friday. At that point, he was three shots behind the leader, Harold Varner III.

Another 67 on Saturday brought Berger to 11-under par and still three shots behind the 54-hole leader Xander Schauffele. Then on Sunday, Berger shot a 4-under par 66 to get himself to 15-under par and into the playoff.

For Berger, it was his first win outside of Memphis. His two previous PGA Tour victories had come at the FedEx St. Jude Classic at TPC Southwind. Now, he can add Colonial Country Club in Fort Worth to the list of courses he has conquered.

Sunday’s win also was Berger’s first win in a playoff during his PGA Tour career. In his two previous playoff chances, he came up short, losing to Padraig Harrington in the 2015 Honda Classic and to Jordan Spieth in the 2017 Travelers Championship.

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Berger did not let the three-month absence due to the coronavirus slow down his momentum. In his last four starts, he has finished in a tie for ninth at the Waste Management Phoenix Open, in a tie for fifth at the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am, in a tie for fourth at the Honda Classic and now a win at the Charles Schwab Challenge. In the process, Berger has climbed from 82nd to 11th in the FedEx Cup standings.

Once, Berger did not know if he would ever play again. Now, he is one of the hottest players on tour and has another victory under his belt. And there could be more to come for the talented 27-year-old.

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