American Daniel Berger used the enforced break in the 2020 golfing season due to COVID-19 to improve his short game and this has propelled him to new heights, seeing him end the season on the brink of the top 10 in the rankings.

He won the first event of the restarted 2020 season, the Charles Schwab Challenge, and rode a hot putter that allowed him to enjoy a streak of 32 consecutive rounds at par or better between 2019 and 2020.

He was part of the illustrious high school graduating class of 2011, which includes major winners Jordan Spieth and Justin Thomas, as well as PGA Tour professionals Emiliano Grillo, Patrick Rodgers and Ollie Schniederjans.

Berger first started taking golf seriously when his family moved to Jupiter, Florida, the mecca of PGA Tour professionals.

He was an accomplished amateur and a two-time first-team All-American, having been honoured in both of his completed collegiate seasons.

After just two years of college, Berger turned professional at the age of 20 in 2013 and joined the Web.com Tour. He earned a place on the 2014/15 PGA Tour based on his Web.com Tour ranking.

He came close to a first PGA Tour victory in his debut season, losing a sudden-death playoff to Padraig Harrington in the Honda Classic after an incredible final round comeback.

Berger ended his wait for a first big title when he won the first of back-to-back FedEx St. Jude Classics in 2016.

He has earned two top-10 finishes in majors, with his best showing being a tie for sixth at the 2018 US Open.

Life before the Tour

Taking up golf at the age of 11 and playing competitively throughout his teens, Berger was the number one ranked junior in the state of Florida in the 2011 high school graduating class despite not turning out for his school team in his senior year. Berger competed in national and international junior events to earn this ranking.

He played collegiate golf for the Florida State University Seminoles for two seasons. As a freshman, he helped the team to one of their best-ever seasons and was chosen to lead the Seminoles in his second season. In his sophomore year he won two events - the Gator Invitational and the Seminole Intercollegiate - and tied for second at the 2013 NCAA Golf Championships.

He chose not to complete the remaining two years of his stint at FSU and instead turned professional in 2013.

Turning pro

Berger joined the Web.com Tour, playing in five events between June and the end of 2013. He missed the cut in his first three appearances before joining the weekend field for the first time at the Price Cutter Charity Championship in August.

Daniel Berger at the RBC Canadian Open

His first full season as a professional saw Berger find some momentum and he notched five top-10 finishes. A second place at the Stonebrae Classic was his best effort. His final position of 15th in the Web.com Tour standings earned him full membership of the PGA Tour for the 2014/15 season.

Berger earned more than $3million in his PGA Tour rookie season and qualified for the season-ending Tour Championship. He had come close to victory in the Honda Classic, but couldn't win a playoff against Harrington after making up a nine-shot deficit in the final round.

He also couldn't catch Jason Day at the 2015 BMW Championship and had to settle for another second place a week before the Tour Championship, where he would finish in a tie for 12th.

Berger was named PGA Tour Rookie of the Year in 2015 and continued his early consistency into his second season. In 2016, Berger finished in the top 10 at six events and won his first PGA Tour title at the FedEx St. Jude Classic.

A year later, Berger won his second PGA Tour title by defending the FedEx St. Jude Classic, and this saw him move into the world's top 20 for the first time. For the third season in a row, Berger secured more than $3million in prize money after securing six top-10 finishes in each of his full PGA Tour campaigns.

Berger's form dipped in 2018 and 2019, but towards the end of his fifth season in the big time, he experienced the beginning of a revival and this carried over into 2020. His improvement in the short game helped him to win his third title at the Charles Schwab Challenge at Colonial Country Club in June.

Berger was disappointed to miss out on the 2020 Masters field, with the event taking place in the middle of a hot streak.

His Major experiences

Berger has never won a Major although he did hold a share of the lead heading into the final day at the 2018 US Open after a brilliant 66 in the third round. However, he couldn't back it up on the Sunday and fell back into a share of sixth place.

Berger made his major debut at the 2014 US Open, making the cut and finishing in a tie for 28th. He missed the cut at both of his Major appearances in 2015 but bounced back in 2016.

In his first US Masters start, Berger finished joint-10th, splitting the place with Jason Day, Rory McIlroy, Justin Rose and Brandt Snedeker.

Daniel Berger's personal life

Berger was born into a Jewish family with a rich sporting heritage. He has two brothers and one sister.

His father is a former director of the United States Tennis Association and coach of the Olympic team. His grandmother was a talented amateur golfer, who was inducted into the Greater Buffalo Sports Hall of Fame in 2000.

Berger played a lot of tennis as a young man and has said that he would have pursued a career in the sport had it not been for golf.

He has been in a relationship with Florida realtor Tori Slater since 2015. It is not known whether the couple intend to tie the knot soon.

Daniel Berger's net worth

Berger's net worth has been pegged at around $12million. This accounts for his successful 2020 season when he earned more than $4million in prize money, including a $1.375million winner's check from the Charles Schwab Challenge.

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In 2020, he signed a deal with Adidas to kit him out for the course.

He has used Callaway and TaylorMade clubs and balls without signing a deal with an equipment supplier.

Berger has enjoyed marketing relationships with Geico, FootJoy and Lacoste.

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Daniel Berger's much improved short game since the return of golf has elevated him to a different level as he rises up the world rankings.