HONDA CLASSIC

February 27, 2022

Daniel Berger

PGA National Resort

Quick Quotes

Q. Just start in general what went wrong today?

DANIEL BERGER: Didn't play well, so I didn't win the golf tournament. That's unfortunate, but actually felt good. I just didn't hit the shots that I needed to hit at the right time.

Q. When you had lost the lead after five or six holes, from that point on what was the mindset? Okay, you had just gone through that stretch. What were you thinking going forward?

DANIEL BERGER: Just trying to make birdies and pars. I did a really good job the first three days of not short-siding myself, and then as the day went on today I hit a lot of shots that were just in some horrible spots. Just couldn't get up and down. Unless you made a 20-footer it wasn't going to be a par.

Yeah, that's the way golf goes.

Q. Would've taken miracle at the end, but was it a 3-wood on the 18th?

DANIEL BERGER: Yeah, it was super unfortunate at the end to get the rain. Obviously where Sam hit his drive, that's where we would've hit our drives and we would've had a 3- or 4-iron in, but that's how golf goes. You don't always get the good breaks. You know, I fought hard all day, and so that's something to be proud of.

Q. You've had so many ups, downs, you do in every sport. Anything you need to do to recover from this or just another one you put away and move forward?

DANIEL BERGER: Yeah, just a poor round. It can happen at any time. I'm not going to dwell on it too much. Just didn't hit quality shots at the right time. Probably would've had a chance to win if I made a few more putts.

I don't think I made a single putt today. I don't know what happened. Just didn't feel good over the putter today.

Q. For how easy the first three days looked, at what point could you sense in the final round that you weren't as sharp as you were?

DANIEL BERGER: You know, probably after that third shot I hit into the third hole. You know, it was like you miss it in the one spot you literally can't miss it in. You can hit it anywhere to the right and get up and down and make par, and I plug it in the left bunker and it's an automatic bogey or double from there.

So just shots like that that I hadn't hit the first three days seemed to be more in my game today.

Q. This tournament obviously means more to you than many others; you're from here. You've had two tournaments that have had heartbreaking endings, different ways. Still, is it something now going forward that gives you more incentive, just coming out here and trying to win this tournament?

DANIEL BERGER: No, listen, today was a good learning experience. I was prepared and ready to play well today, and I just didn't hit the shots I need to hit. That's the way golf goes. There are plenty of guys that hit great shots today, and that's why they're winning the golf tournament.

It's unfortunate, but that's the game.

Q. This may sound like a dumb question, it may be one. Is there something uncomfortable about being by yourself with that big of a lead going into a final round?

DANIEL BERGER: No, I felt fine today. Honestly, I warmed up well and I felt good. I just didn't make that many putts, or any putts, and if you don't make putts you're not going to shoot a good score. That's what happened today.