Daniel Berger back where faith got vindication

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Daniel Berger - TheGolfingHub
Defending champion Daniel Berger will be hoping to extend to his prolific run at the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am. Photo: bleacherreport.com

Daniel Berger had won on the PGA Tour, but it was at the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am that he got to believe that he had it in him to contend week in-week out. Excerpts from an interview:

We would like to welcome our defending champion to the interview room. Daniel’s made three appearances at this event in his career finished in the top 10 all three times. So Daniel, as you return to Pebble Beach, looking back at last year, what sort of positive memories come to mind?

Daniel Berger: Well the second shot on the 18th I think I’ll think about for a long time and then holing that putt to win. But this is one of my favorite events of the year, it was kind of different last year not having the amateurs, but I’m excited to get back this year and have some fun.

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So Jordan Spieth missed the cut last week, you took over that No. 1 spot. So just the level of consistency of your game over the last year or so and how do you keep that momentum going?

Berger: Yeah, no, I played some very consistent golf and I’ve worked hard on my golf game to show up every week and feel like I can compete. And I think it’s just, I can attribute that to the little things I’m doing at home and the work that I’ve been doing with my coach.

T-10, T-5 and a win. Is it as much the golf courses the setting, the format, what makes you so successful in this tournament?

Berger: I played this event early on and I took a couple years off, I don’t even know why, I just think that I wasn’t prepared for the poa annua greens and the longer rounds and then I decided to come back and I’ve been successful here in the three times that I played it, so I think I’ve gotten better at understanding how to play on these California-style golf courses and that’s why I wanted to come back and get off to a good start this year.

What did this win do for you last year?

Berger: I think it really kind of propelled me to believe in myself enough to make that Ryder Cup team and to know that if I play my best golf that I can compete every single week, week-in and week-out and have a chance to win.

And I think that’s kind of changed my mindset where I don’t just show up to play a golf tournament, I show up to have a chance to win and if I do the things that I know I’m capable of doing that I think I can be one of the best golfers in the world.

The other thing is, if you compare it with some of the other wins, like Memphis, for example, what is the flow like in terms of being in a very slow pace, casual pace, partners, amateurs, and then you get to Sunday and you still might have your amateur partner, but all of a sudden we approach the finish line and it seems like the pace changes?

Berger: Yeah, I mean, I think you have to be prepared for it, you have to understand that this is the way the week goes and if you’re mentally ready for that, then you don’t allow those emotions to overcome you and to affect your play and you stay patient enough to understand that this is just how the week is.

And we don’t get to see it that often so you just kind of go with the flow and just enjoy it. And it’s not hard to do at Pebble Beach because obviously when you look up over to the ocean it’s very peaceful and it’s very beautiful and you just try to enjoy the environment that you’re in. And the sun always shines when I’m here, so it’s been good.

If you weren’t defending this week would you have been tempted to go to Saudi?

Berger: You know, I haven’t had much communication with them and I love this golf tournament, so I don’t think there would have been really a place where I would have had an opportunity to play there, because I would have been playing here.

Do you think with the conflicting event thing, which was a little unusual this year with guys having now to come play Pebble once, maybe twice in the next three years, do you see a situation where guys won’t do it?

Berger: I don’t see a situation because I think Commissioner Monahan has made it clear if you choose to play there, you can play there, but you have to come here. So I think it’s going to be great for this tournament too. You’re going to see names that maybe you haven’t seen in a while coming here and I think it’s going to work out for everyone.

PGA Tour

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