For the second straight day, Daniel Berger lost a three-stroke lead, but again he had an answer.
Berger made three birdies in a span of four holes through No. 15 on his way to a 3-under-par 67 and claimed his first PGA Tour victory by three strokes over Phil Mickelson, Steve Stricker and Brooks Koepka in the FedEx St. Jude Classic at TPC Southwind in Memphis, Tenn.
“To kind of get it done today means a lot,” said Berger, who did not win last season despite being the PGA Tour’s Rookie of the Year. “To do that with so many great players, Hall of Famers behind me, it’s something that I’ll never forget and I just love the way I hung in there and was able to get it done.
“When I played in the Masters for the first time I think I finished 10th, five shots behind and didn’t really play that great. So, you know if I can go in there and play good, then obviously I have what it takes to get the W.”
Mickelson, who will make his third bid for the Career Grand Slam this week in the U.S. Open, also had three birdies on the back nine in another 67, while Stricker posted another 67 and Koepka finished with a 66.
Dustin Johnson collected six birdies and an eagle on the 15th hole in a 63 that left him four shots back in solo fifth, while Brian Gay was another stroke back in sixth after a 66.
Russell Henley shot 67 and was six shots down in a tie for seventh with Seung Yul-Noh, who closed with a 69.
Shawn Stefani posted a 65 to wind up seven strokes behind in a tie for ninth with Ken Duke, who carded a 68, and Bret Stegmaier, who totaled 68.
