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PALM BEACH GARDENS, Fla. — It was the fitting ending to Daniel Berger’s day.
The Jupiter resident started Sunday in the sunshine and ahead of the field by five shots, the largest 54-hole lead in Honda Classic Tournament history.
It ended in a downpour when his 3-wood from 259-yards on No. 18 landed in the water short and right of the pin, ending any hope of a miracle finish.
Berger bogeyed No. 18 to finished with a 4-over 74, his worst score in 25 rounds at his hometown tournament. This after starting the tournament with consecutive 65s. He finished fourth, giving back eight shots on the day to winner Sepp Straka.
Berger’s five-shot lead disappeared in five holes. After six, Berger found himself in the second spot for the first time since he forged ahead on his ninth hole Friday.
He never led outright again.
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“Just a poor round,” Berger said after congratulating Straka, who won his first PGA Tour title with a birdie on No. 18, capping a 66 on the day and 10-under 270 for the tournament.
“It can happen at any time. I’m not going to dwell on it too much.”
Everyone will experience heartbreak, especially on a track as tough as the Champion Course. And it probably will not be the last time Berger will blow a lead. It certainly was not the first. He now is 1-of-4 in holding the lead after 54 holes.
Even golf’s G.O.A.T, Jack Nicklaus, who made an appearance at the course Sunday, said it’s difficult to start the final round so far ahead of the field.
The Golden Bear admitted he did not like being the hunted.
“Sometimes it’s hard to have a five-shot lead,” Nicklaus said on the NBC telecast. “I never liked a big lead. I usually got through it.”
That’s Jack. Berger is not in that class (neither is anyone else who has played in a PGA Tour event in the last year). But the 21st ranked golfer in the world with four PGA Tour titles did not blame his slow start – or daylong struggles – on the pressure of…
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Source : yahoo
