(Palm Beach Gardens) Daniel Berger no longer has to answer questions about the state of his back, his game speaks volumes for him.
Posted yesterday at 8:17 p.m.
Berger, who is playing practically at home despite the family residence being 15 minutes from the course, has given himself a three-shot lead after two rounds at the Honda Classic. On Friday, he shot a second straight round of 65 to take the lead alone at 10 under.
“I have my mother cooking, I can sleep in my bed. It’s quite comfortable,” he said.
Leader after the first round, Kurt Kitayama offered an eagle on a par-5 at 18and hole as darkness settled over the course. He finished his day with a 69, which puts him tied for second with Chris Kirk at 7 under. Mark Hubbard (64) is close behind at 6 under, tied with Canadian Adam Svensson (65) who hit every green on par.
Svensson completed his round with a par at 6:41 p.m., 22 minutes after sunset.
“This course is insane,” Hubbard said. There are so many pitfalls. Anything can happen to any hole, so you really can’t slack off. »
At under-10 after 36 holes, Berger tied the Honda Classic’s third-best score since the tournament became a PGA National event in 2007. Aaron Wise was under-12 after two rounds last year and Rory McIlroy had shot minus-11 after 36 holes in 2014, then the same year Brendon De Jonge followed him at minus-10 at the same stage.
The problem? Neither of them managed to retain the lead to win the tournament. McIlroy crumbled in overtime against Russell Henley, Wise played 75 and 73 in weekend rounds to finish 13thand rank and De Jonge dipped with 76 and 78 in the last two rounds to finish in 63and square.
But this tournament seems to smile on Berger, who has found himself in the top-5 twice in his first six appearances. In 2015, he lost in the extra round on Monday to Padraig Harrington.
“Every time I go to a tournament, I want to win it,” he said. But it would be especially nice to win here because I have so many friends and family with me this week. »
Berger had five birdies and no bogeys on Thursday. On Friday, he was nearly flawless yet again, stalling six birdies and committing just one bogey. That only misstep came on his sixth hole of the day, on the par-3 on fairway 15. His tee shot ended up in the sand false and he then missed a 15-foot putt that would have allowed him to save his normal.
It’s Berger’s first time leading a PGA Tour after two rounds since the Travelers Championship in August 2016. He’s won four career titles, most recently at Pebble Beach in 2021.
His back problems, which forced him to rest for the past few weeks, prevented him from participating in the Pebble Beach tournament this year. He played the Phoenix Open two weeks ago, which confirmed he would be able to compete in the Honda Classic this week.
So far, so good.
“It took a little longer than I thought for me to feel good,” Berger said. Six or seven years ago I thought I had broken my ankle and ten days later I was fine. But I’m getting older and at 28, it’s not the same. It’s shocking, but after thousands and thousands of golf swings, it’s part of the job. »
Chase Seiffert (66) is part of a five-under-5 group. Seiffert finished third at the Honda Classic last year. This year, he had failed to qualify for the tournament, but was admitted at the last minute as the first substitute when Tyler Duncan withdrew.
Other big names on the board include Brooks Koepka (72) playing par after two rounds. Joaquin Niemann, who triumphed last week at Genesis, was at minus-4 at one point before seeing things go downhill. He ended his round by hitting his ball in the water on the last hole, which caused him to miss the cut by one stroke. He ended his tournament at plus-3.
So far, 72 players have survived the minus-2 cut. A 73and They could be joined by golfer Andrew Kozan, who was unable to complete his round before dark.
He is at 2 under and his ball is in the fairway at 18and pennant, a par-5. He will have to complete his hole Saturday morning 250 yards from the green. A par or better would allow him to continue his tournament.