Daniel Berger returned to the PGA Tour this week with the American Express. He had missed his professional start since the 2022 US Open due to severe back pain.
In his first round back, the former Florida State Seminole posted a 4-under 68.
He had six birdies and two bogeys in the round.He's excited about his return, but he's also unsure if he'll be. Are you ready to play?
“When the time is up, you just peel off the bandaid and get out,” he said. “I played really well today, which was good. I didn't hit any bad shots. The few bogeys I made were two good iron shots. So I'm just trying to get better every day and prepare for the tournament. You just have to get better each time, go with the flow, see the same people and do your usual routine.”
Daniel Berger is making his first start since the 2022 US Open. This is the tee shot from the first hole of the Stadium Course.
Berger has been suffering from back issues for the past 18 months, but he finally returned this week and says he is finally healthy. pic.twitter.com/Jbv08vCauy
— Paul Hadowanic (@PaulHadowanic) January 18, 2024
Berger spent more than a year letting his body heal itself. The pain started at the 2021 Hero World Challenge. At the time, he was ranked 19th in the world and was part of the record-breaking Team USA Ryder Cup team at Whistling Straits.
“Mentally, I couldn't accept being in pain every day while playing, so at that point I thought, this isn't fun anymore,” Berger said.
He is now ranked 664th in the world, essentially making a fresh start.
But if Thursday's round means anything, the bottom for burgers isn't all that low. He admitted he had only played 10 rounds in the past six months, but that didn't matter.
Berger looked like his old self, hitting every fairway and green on the front nine and turning in at 4 under. On the back nine, he coughed up a few shots, but it was still a strong performance for his first round back as a pro.
Berger will look to build momentum into the next two days starting Thursday as he looks to qualify for Day 3 at American Express.
Savannah Lee Richardson is a golf staff writer for SB Nation's Playing Through.For more golf coverage, follow us @_PlayingThrough On all major social platforms. You can also follow her on Twitter @SportsGirls and Instagram @savannah_leigh_sports.
