Why Daniel Berger could be in trouble for the weekend at Bay Hill despite five shot lead
· Yahoo Sports
Daniel Berger has stormed into a commanding lead at the Arnold Palmer Invitational.
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He leads by five shots after two days of play, sitting at an incredibly impressive 13-under-par at one of the most difficult courses on the PGA Tour. He looks dead set to claim his sixth win on the PGA Tour.
But it’s been clearly demonstrated to us all just how difficult it is to win on the PGA Tour this season. Jacob Bridgeman looked to be cruising to victory at the Genesis Invitational before falling into the clutches of Rory McIlroy, and Shane Lowry just blew a three-shot lead in three holes at the Cognizant Classic.
And judging by what players are saying about the condition of the golf course at Bay Hill, Berger’s lead could well be in danger.
Photo by Tracy Wilcox/PGA TOUR via Getty ImagesDaniel Berger will get the worst of the conditions at Bay Hill
Bay Hill might be the most difficult venue on the PGA Tour, and it’s baring its teeth so far. The rough is thick, the greens are lightning quick, and the hazards are always waiting to punish any wayward shot.
And as the greens cook in the Florida sun, they’re only getting firmer and faster. That means you would far rather be out there early in the day, as these conditions will only become more difficult as the tournament goes on.
That’s a luxury Daniel Berger is unlikely to have. He’ll be out last on Saturday, and barring disaster, last on Sunday, getting the worst of the conditions on both days. That doesn’t bode well for the rest of his tournament.
He’s coped brilliantly so far, but as a result, he’ll be disadvantaged for the remainder of the tournament. If he wants to win this week, he’ll have to be by far the best player in the field for the final two days, despite his big lead.
Min Woo Lee makes an ominous comment about Bay Hill
Min Woo Lee, who is currently T9 at four under, gave an honest reflection on the conditions: “I was just saying in the scoring hut right there, in the last six holes, the greens were crusty, and a bit of wind, so it made putting really hard. We were looking at putts from every angle, me and Thor.
“Yeah, it’s not easy, and the guys out there have got it quite challenging. So it’s nice to play in the morning yesterday and post a score.
“Off the tee it’s pretty demanding, but you’ve got to hit some good shots, and hopefully you hit some greens. And hopefully make par or have a birdie chance. It was tough out there, and putting was probably the hardest.”
He continued, “It’s just the speeds. The speeds are unbelievably quick, especially downwind. Some 20-footers you have to hit to four feet hard, and they still reach the hole. There’s a bit of a guess and a lot of it is feel.
“We don’t get crusty greens wherever we play, but here’s one of the places there is. Just to practice it, and it’s a bit of luck. It is crispy, so just hit some good putts, that’s all you can do.”