Berger eventually carded a three-under par 67 to clinch the first PGA Tour win of his career, finishing three shots clear on 13-under overall of Phil Mickelson (67), Brooks Koepka (66) and Steve Stricker (67). He became the 13th first-time victor on tour this season and took home the winner’s check of $1.1 million in the 50th start of his career.
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Low rounds were common on Sunday, as Dustin Johnson shot a tournament-low 63 to finish alone in fifth place at 9-under par.
3 – Although it’s the U.S. Open next week, The Open Championship was on some players’ minds at TPC Southwind.
He did face a significant challenge on day four, not only from the demons of trying to win for the first occasion but from veterans Mickelson and Stricker and in form players who have done well in this event previously, Koepka, Dustin Johnson and others, along with inclement weather which ensured Berger’s wait would be extended.
While at Florida State in 2012 and 2013, Berger was a first-team All-American named by Golfweek and the Golf Coaches Association of America. Given that he believes he did not perform well at Augusta National, Berger is confident that his newfound success will led him towards a more favorable outcome on arguably the most hard golf course in the United States.
“Hopefully I’ll find it for tomorrow’s round because it’s only going to take a few more fairways hit and a few more birdie opportunities the way I’m putting to try to get this done”.
96 – Where Mickelson ranks on the PGA Tour this season in strokes gained off the tee.
Mickelson had his putter working with his first birdie on No. 2 the shortest on a putt of 6 feet, and he rolled in a 10-footer on No. 6.
Berger was already qualified for the US Open and Open Championships prior to this week but he must now head into next week’s US Open with a belief he can do well.
Lee birdied the par-four, 425-yard 12th hole to move past Henderson by a stroke.
The Korean, who started at the 10th, dropped a shot at the first and made a complete hash of the seventh, where a double bogey saw him fall into the group on three under, six shots adrift of Berger.
“So, you know if I can go in there next week and play good, then obviously I have what it takes to get the W”.
But he responded positively with a birdie at the par-five 16th, before chipping in from off the green for a birdie at the 17th. “It was really frustrating and disanointing that I couldn’t get the right swing to work”.
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SAMMAMISH, Wash. – Top-ranked Lydia Ko bogeyed the 18th hole Saturday to cut her lead to one stroke heading into the final round of the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship. I got a little sloppy with my setup the first couple days. I’ve just got to focus on my game. Langer shot a 2-under 68 at windy Philadelphia Cricket Club in the third of the PGA Tour Champions’ five major championships. She bounced back with a pair of birdies down the stretch and also finished with a two-under 69.
