SANDERSON FARMS CHAMPIONSHIP

October 4, 2024

Daniel Berger

Country Club of Jackson

Quick Quotes

Q. Bogey-free heading into the weekend. How would you assess the first two rounds?

DANIEL BERGER: Yeah, the course isn't playing too challenging. The calm conditions in the morning were beneficial to make some birdies. Hit the ball well. Had some early looks, and that was what made the difference.

Q. Has to help, give you confidence when yesterday you see David Skinns going out there that it's out there, scorable.

DANIEL BERGER: Yeah, can work both ways. It can put added pressure to feel like you got to make birdies. Made some good par putts early into the round to get things going and hung in there and played well.

Q. First time here since I think 2015. What do you remember? What's been the biggest difference?

DANIEL BERGER: Course is just as I remember it. Obviously conditions are a little softer, but great bermuda greens. Challenging course if you don't hit the fairways.

So everything I recall.

Q. As you're returning from injury, has it been more results focused or seeing things in home translating on the golf course?

DANIEL BERGER: I think it's a combination of both. Just having time at home the last couple weeks, getting to play competitive golf with some of my friends, playing well, and that's been the difference.

Q. Mentioned to Todd this is the first time you're feeling 100% well. When did you realize that and start feeling it?

DANIEL BERGER: I think it's kind of a process. You're working every day to get 1% better, 1% better, and then you got to a point where you don't have to think about it or worry about it and that's kind of where I am now.

Q. 36 holes, no bogeys, 7-under par yesterday, 7-under par today. What do you bring to Mississippi those last two days?

DANIEL BERGER: I'm just trying to have some fun and enjoy myself. Seems to be working so far. My dad was out here earlier with me this week, so just felt kind of like a normal week at home.

That's usually when I play my best.

Q. You've had some health challenges over the last few years, wrist, recently your back. Where are you at now with your body?

DANIEL BERGER: This is probably the first time I can say I'm 100%. I've played, whatever, 28 times this year, started in January. There is always that thought in the back of your head, am I good, can I swing as hard as I want?

The last couple weeks I felt my best and played a bunch of golf at home with the guys and I am hitting it further and just feeling like myself more. That's kind of translating into what I'm seeing now?

Q. Your body is good and mechanics are obviously good. You talked about having fun more. How challenging has it been for you to find the fun again given everything you've gone through?

DANIEL BERGER: Yeah, in the beginning it was extremely difficult. Like I was saying earlier, the fact that the landscape of the golf world has changed from when I took time off to where I am now. The tournaments that I'm in -- I wasn't in this year but I would've been in before.

So I'm playing new events that I never played before, going places I never had on my schedule, changing golf coaches, new caddies. You just add all this change in and it just becomes challenging. I've just tried to dig in and just be patient and just enjoy the process.

Like I said, when you miss two years, you don't come back and see immediate success. It can be challenging. Now I'm just having fun and that's when I play my best.