We all know Florida courses are infamous for their challenging layouts, but this time, at the Cognizant Classic, it’s been exceptionally testing for golfers. Speaking of which, Daniel Berger is facing his fair share of struggles at PGA National. How? Well, ever since he teed up, the course has been both thrilling and nightmarish for him. Thrilling because he currently sits at T3, and being in contention after two rounds is no small feat. But the journey to get here? A complete rollercoaster.
Berger’s second round at the Cognizant Classic was anything but smooth sailing. As the day progressed, the Florida heat, the grueling course, and in some instances, even his own body started working against him. By the back nine, something was off. It was clear to those watching that Berger wasn’t feeling his best. Golf writer Joe I. even pointed out how he kept dropping into a catcher’s crouch between shots, looking visibly drained.
Berger himself admitted it, summing up his struggles in just four words: “Didn’t eat enough food.”
“I just kind of lost a little steam on the back nine,” Berger said after his round. “I don’t know if I didn’t eat enough food and started to feel a little bit off there. But hit a bad 9-iron, plugged it in the hazard, and I actually got away with one just to make a bogey there. It could have been a lot worse.”
Berger appeared to be dealing with “something” today. Played really well and battled, but was dropped to a catchers crouch A LOT in between shots.
Reminded me of when Ludvig was sick. Very low energy and you could tell he ran out of steam late.
Hopefully hydrates up tonight…
— Joe I (@TourPicks) February 28, 2025
It kind of gave déjà vu of Ludvig Åberg at the Farmers Insurance Open—not too long ago, he was cruising at the top of the leaderboard, playing some solid golf, and then boom—his energy tanked in the final round due to illness, and he slipped all the way down to T42. Could Berger be heading down the same road with exhaustion creeping in?
Further, in the case of Daniel Berger, it’s not just about the fatigue—Lady Luck hasn’t exactly been on his side either. And if you saw his first round, you’d probably agree.
Berger’s first round too was somewhere… up in the air
If Round 2 was about low energy levels, Round 1 was pure chaos. Berger’s tournament started in the most bizarre way possible—his first shot never even touched the ground.
On the par-5 10th hole, Berger’s opening drive leaked right and simply disappeared. Volunteers, spectators, and officials searched everywhere—through the rough, in the bunkers, even inside trash bags—only to realize the ball had lodged itself high up in a palm tree, about 50 feet in the air. With no other option, Berger had to take a cart ride back to the tee and re-hit his shot. And yet, in true Berger fashion, he didn’t let the weird start shake him.
The spirited golfer went on to chip in from 24 feet to save par, turning what could’ve been a total disaster into a standout moment. After the first round, he said, “I thought I played well, but then someone shot 59. Clearly, the course was not the old Bear Trap that we’re used to. But still a great start to the event, and just got to continue to do what I did today for the next three days.”
Now that two rounds are in the books, the big question remains: can Berger keep up the momentum, or will his situation mirror Åberg’s, where exhaustion cost him a near win? Yeah, that would sting. But considering how Berger has fought through adversity, it’s too early to bet against him.
Can he still win the match?
Despite all the setbacks—disappearing golf balls, exhaustion, and a demanding course—Berger is still in contention. He sits just two shots off the lead at 11 under par, showing resilience even when his body wasn’t fully cooperating. Golf analyst Rick Gehman pointed out just how solid Berger’s game has been despite the struggles. “First off, he is just two shots off of the lead at 11 under par, and he’s doing it in a way that is vintage Daniel Berger, gaining across the board. He’s putting up a stat profile that is exactly what you would want to see right now, and he has overcome already a lot of issues.”
He further noted, “He has clearly not had his best stuff. He’s still very much in the mix,” Gehman said. “There’s still 36 holes to go. He’s 6-1 heading into the weekend, and if you place the wager for the tournament, you’ve got to be pretty stoked about where you’re at.”
Maybe all Berger needs is a solid meal, some rest, and a smarter snack plan to keep his energy up. He’s already shown he can handle the unexpected—whether it’s a golf ball stuck in a palm tree or powering through exhaustion. Now, the real test is if he can keep that momentum going through the weekend.
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