“I knew millions were watching at home, and that was enough for me”

In the first PGA Tour event post-lockdown, an emotional Daniel Berger registered his third PGA Tour title after overcoming a serious wrist injury

Can you talk a little bit about the emotion of winning again after all you've been through?

I think when I won my first two events, I took it a little bit for granted, thinking every year was just going to be easy and that I’d have the chance to win. But it's tough out here. It's cutthroat. I worked my butt off the last year to be in this position, and I'm just glad it all paid off.

Do you think the entire week, aside from your win, could have gone any better in terms of the PGA Tour putting together the first event in three months?

The PGA Tour, the staff at Colonial, the greenkeepers, everyone involved with making the tournament did an unbelievable job. It was a little different without fans, but it didn't feel like it wasn't a PGA Tour event. You still felt that pressure. You still felt like there was so much on the line. The tournament was a huge success in my opinion.

You just mentioned the fans and it being a little bit different. What do you think was most profound? Was it on the 18th green or when you finished with the play-off?

missing from some holes, which just gave you a different feel. But the atmosphere, in my opinion, was fantastic, even though there weren't any fans out there. I knew that millions of people were watching at home, and that was enough for me.

How nice does it feel to wear the plaid jacket, and what does it mean to you to be Colonial champion?

Yeah, I think I took it for granted a little bit in years past when I came here and you stand on the first tee and see all the names on the wall, some of the best of all time. Now my name is up there, along with so many great players, and I feel a real sense of honour.

You've had a couple of long lay-offs in the last couple of years, one from the pandemic and the other one from your wrist. Was there a difference in returning?