2021 Honda Classic: Top 10 power rankings at PGA National

All signs are pointing toward a big week for Daniel Berger.

For starters, it’s basically a home game for the Jupiter, Florida resident. He played junior golf tournaments at PGA National.

Berger nearly won his Honda Classic debut in 2015, firing 68-71-71-64 to reach a two-man playoff won by Padraig Harrington. That’s quite a big stage facing a three-time major champion as a rookie.

Clearly, Berger took a lot from that moment. He’s not a major champ like Paddy, but one could be in his future.

The former Florida State Seminole has made four of six cuts at PGA National with all top-36 or better.

Berger posted 69-70-69-69 for T-4th and was three shots back of Sungjae Im in 2020.

The 27 year old is already a winner in 2021. Berger’s fourth career PGA Tour victory came last month at Pebble Beach.

He’s made seven of his last eight cuts, which includes the win and T-9th last week at the Players Championship. Berger’s Sunday 67 at TPC Sawgrass was one off the low round of the day.

No. 15 Berger is the highest-ranked player in the field per the Official World Golf Rankings. A lot of top players are understandably resting this week, so this is the perfect time for Berger to jump up and grab an event he’s been due to win.

He’s a chameleon who has the well-rounded game to compete at all types of venues. Berger’s 62nd or better in all strokes gained categories except for around the green, where he’s a woeful 187th (-.238). I like for that area to improve now that the West Coast swing is behind him. He was 10th (.795) in that stat last week and 28th (.271) in 2019-20.