Daniel Berger edges out Collin Morikawa in Charles Schwab Challenge

Daniel Berger won his third PGA TOUR title with a playoff victory over Collin Morikawa in the Charles Schwab Challenge at the Colonial Golf Club

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Daniel Berger - PGA TOUR - Getty Images - Charles Schwab Challenge

15 June 2020: In a thrilling finish to the Charles Schwab Challenge, Daniel Berger defeated Collin Morikawa on the first playoff hole to clinch his third PGA TOUR title. It was a rousing return to action for golf after a three-month suspension for coronavirus. The two men were tied on 15-under at the end of 72 holes. Berger made par on the first playoff hole, the 17th, while Morikawa’s short putt suffered an agonising lip out. Berger made 66 on Sunday, while Morikawa produced a third straight 67 to set up the eighth playoff of the season on the PGA TOUR.

Jason Kokrak (64), Bryson DeChambeau (66), Justin Rose (66) and Xander Schauffele (66) tied in third place, just one-stroke behind Berger and Morikawa. Schauffele also suffered an unbelievable 360-degree lip out from a short range, missing the playoff by the narrowest of margins.

St. Jude Classic in June of 2017. The 2016 PGA Tour Rookie of the Year, Berger saw his early success on Tour slowed by a wrist injury that hampered him for the better part of two years, in both 2018 and 2019. After missing the FedExCup Playoffs last season, Berger has once again found his form, with Sunday marking his 28th consecutive round under par, a streak that dates back to the Zozo Championship.
Daniel Berger – Collin Morikawa – Getty Images

Berger clinched victory when Morikawa stood helplessly as his par putt from three feet on the 17th hole kissed the edges of the cup before staying out. It is Berger’s first victory since the St. Jude Classic in June 2017, as a wrist injury blighted his golf for two straight seasons. Since the Zozo Championship last year, Berger has produced 28 straight rounds under par. Morikawa also missed a birdie opportunity on the 72nd from six feet. He continues his quest to emulate Tiger Woods for the most cuts made at the start of a career on the PGA TOUR. Morikawa’s streak is 21 events with the mark by Woods at 25.

“I thought about the virus very few times this week,” Berger said. “You know, it’s been such a big part of our lives for the last two months, and I feel like I just tried to do everything I can to be safe, and that’s all you really can do. You wash your hands, you don’t touch your face, you wear a mask when you can, you social distance, and obviously we got tested early in the week, so I knew I was healthy before I got here.

“We had the temperature readings before we got on-site every single day. I knew that all of the employees and staff that were here were doing the same thing. I felt completely safe.”

“There was so many times today where I could have given it up or let the pressure get to me,” Berger said, “but I hung in there and I played practically some of the best golf I’ve played the last six years the last five holes today.”

Daniel Berger - PGA TOUR - Getty Images - Charles Schwab Challenge
Daniel Berger – PGA TOUR – Getty Images – Charles Schwab Challenge

Schauffele suffered disappointment yet again, the 54-hole lead (0-3) lost for the third time in his career. He was in trouble on the 15th where he found the water, but he nailed a 31 footer to save bogey. When he made another monstrous putt on the 16th from 25 feet, it appeared that a march to victory was inevitable. Unfortunately, though, Schauffele three-putted on the 17th, watching in agony as his putt from short range did the horseshoe on him, sliding around the cup.

Unfortunately, neither Rory McIlroy nor Jordan Spieth managed to find their best on Sunday. McIlroy suffered, in particular, shooting a miserable 74 to finish in T32, his lowest position since the BMW Championship in 2019. McIlroy’s streak of seven consecutive top five finishes came to an end. Spieth shot 71 to settle for his twelfth top-10 since winning the Open Championship in 2017.

An even 70 helped Gary Woodland finish in ninth place. Bubba Watson shot 65 while Patrick Reed made 67 as the two men ended the week in T7. Sungjae Im, J. T. Poston and Justin Thomas finished alongside Spieth in T10.