HONDA CLASSIC

February 25, 2022

Daniel Berger

PGA National Resort

Quick Quotes

Q. 5-under par today, 10-under par for the tournament. Two questions. Curious, do you ever, do you feel like this is a special mission in your head when you play here, just because you came so close to winning in your rookie season, so darn close. Do you keep that in your mind when you're here and you kind of want to eventually wrap this thing up with a win?

DANIEL BERGER: I mean, every tournament I play in I want to win. But it would be especially nice to win here having so many friends and family here with me this week.

But you just can't focus on that, you just got to take it a shot at a time and really just stay patient because it is such a challenging golf course.

Q. I wanted to ask you, I don't know if you've ever answered this question before, but is there something to be said for getting the Bear Trap out of the way early in your round when you play a round like today, where you don't have to think about it the whole time and it's in the books and then you just play ahead?

DANIEL BERGER: Yeah, regardless you're going to have to play the holes, so it is what it is. But it was nice that we got it kind of earlier on in the round where the wind wasn't as strong and maybe they were a little softer.

So, yeah, I mean, tomorrow I'm going to play it late in the afternoon, so everyone's going to have to play the hole, so it is what it is.

Q. Can you talk us through No. 12.

DANIEL BERGER: Yeah, 12, I hit a good drive and just got caught up in the bunker there and hit a good bunker shot and made a nice putt. So it was just a nice overall par.

Q. Then you mentioned your mom's home cooking. So you eat better when you're at home with her?

DANIEL BERGER: I mean I try to eat healthy, but yeah, I definitely eat better when she's cooking, that's for sure. But yeah, it's just nice to sit down in your own kitchen or your own bedroom and just feel like you're at home and not be in a hotel. We spend a lot of weeks and the road so it's nice to be at home.

Q. Did she make anything special for you?

DANIEL BERGER: She makes whatever I ask. She likes --

Q. I have to ask what you had then, if you're going to keep having it?

DANIEL BERGER: We'll have to figure it out for tonight.

Q. You're not superstitious?

DANIEL BERGER: No.

Q. Do you have a favorite dish she makes?

DANIEL BERGER: Everything. She's a great cook, so everything.

Q. What are you happiest with through 36 holes?

DANIEL BERGER: Probably just the patience. I hit a lot of quality shots, even though they don't look like they're five feet from the hole or 10 feet from the hole, I know that they're so difficult that to hit it to 20 feet is a good shot.

And that's the challenge for this golf course is the pins are tucked, the greens are firm, wind's up, so you have to be really on point with where you're going to miss the ball.

Q. When you're the leader after a morning group, how closely do you watch the afternoon guys? Your score at 10-under is going to put you at the top or near the top, but what's that mindset like when you're done and everyone still has to play?

DANIEL BERGER: Yeah, I try not to think about it. I'm just going to have to get ready for tomorrow and prepare for tomorrow.

But it's going to be tough tomorrow, the afternoons are always more difficult, the greens get firmer and faster, so my game's in a great place so I feel comfortable.

Q. Is the back stuff kind of like in the past now and to that end given what you went through or whatever it was, how surprised are you to just to be in this spot and have it all going as well as you could have hoped?

DANIEL BERGER: Yeah, it took actually longer than I thought it was to feel better. Six, seven years ago I felt like I could have broken my ankle and 10 days later I would have been fine. But I'm getting older now and even at 28 I don't feel the way I used to feel, shockingly, but that's thousands and thousands of golf swings later, so it's just part of the job.

Q. You say this can feel like a major test. What's the level of satisfaction when you control your golf ball the way you have for two days?

DANIEL BERGER: Yeah, I mean it's nice to hit a ton of quality golf shots, and like I was saying earlier, sometimes that's 30 feet from the hole.

You look at holes No. 5, the pin is four from the left and it's off the left and the wind is off left, I mean it's almost impossible to hit it close. So sometimes a 30-footer right of the flag is a great shot.

And so that's what I'm looking forward to on the weekend where that's going to be a big part of the game plan.

Q. A lot of guys when you ask them about home games, they will talk about the distractions, the tickets, whatever. You really embrace that. Does that play into a really good mental attitude this week?

DANIEL BERGER: Yeah, I'm just happy to be out playing golf and just enjoying it and playing a place that I love and I've said it a million times, but like I said sleeping in my own bed it's an amazing feeling.