#danielberger

Hamlet, Act III, Scene 2: The Trap, as played in 1778 in Berlin, Daniel Berger, 1780, Harvard Art Museums: Prints

Harvard Art Museums/Fogg Museum, Gift of Philip Hofer Size: image with border: 22.6 x 27 cm (8 7/8 x 10 5/8 in.)

Illustration to Tristram Shandy, p.7: Rider with a Long Nose on an Ass Admitted through a Town Gate, Daniel Berger, 18th-19th century, Harvard Art Museums: Prints

Harvard Art Museums/Fogg Museum, Gift of Belinda L. Randall from the collection of John Witt Randall Size: design: 12.3 x 6.7 cm (4 13/16 x 2 5/8 in.)

Daniel Berger is making Bay Hill his own right now.

After an electric opening-round 63, Berger backed it up with a four-under 68 on Friday to sit at 13 under par — five shots clear of the field heading into the weekend. It would be his first PGA Tour victory since 2021, and right now he looks every bit the man in control. His mindset says it all: stay patient, take what the course gives you, and pounce when the opportunity comes. Bay Hill rewards that kind of discipline.

Akshay Bhatia is the closest challenger at eight under, with Collin Morikawa, Ludvig Åberg and Sahith Theegala all tied third at seven under. World No. 1 Scottie Scheffler is back in tied-15th after rounds of 70 and 71 — not the weekend he'd have hoped for. Tommy Fleetwood saved himself with a 69 on Friday after a horrible opening 76. Shane Lowry, still stinging from blowing a late lead at the Cognizant Classic last week, missed the cut by a single shot.

As for Rory McIlroy — the 2018 champion here — it's a case of damage limitation turning into cautious optimism. After a level-par first round, he bounced back with a four-under 68 on Friday, highlighted by a monstrous 338-yard drive over the gallery at the 10th. He's at five under, nine back of Berger. On another course that might be game over. But Bay Hill is treacherous, the weekend weather is a factor, and Rory has pulled off miracles before. He called it "a very controlled, patient round of golf" — exactly the kind of mentality needed here.

It's a long shot. But he's still in it. 🏌️

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Illustration to Tristram Shandy, IX Th., p.75: A Gentleman from a Coach Beseeches a Shepherdess, Daniel Berger, 18th-19th century, Harvard Art Museums: Prints

Harvard Art Museums/Fogg Museum, Gift of Belinda L. Randall from the collection of John Witt Randall Size: design: 12.4 x 6.9 cm (4 7/8 x 2 11/16 in.)

Georg Friedrich Schmidt, Daniel Berger, 1813, Harvard Art Museums: Prints

Harvard Art Museums/Fogg Museum, Gift of Belinda L. Randall from the collection of John Witt Randall Size: plate: 18.8 x 11.7 cm (7 3/8 x 4 5/8 in.)

Illustration to Tristram Shandy, VI Th., p.11: A Couple at a Child's Bedside, the Woman Shushing the Man, Daniel Berger, 18th-19th century, Harvard Art Museums: Prints

Harvard Art Museums/Fogg Museum, Gift of Belinda L. Randall from the collection of John Witt Randall Size: design: 12.4 x 6.8 cm (4 7/8 x 2 11/16 in.)

Illustration to Tristram Shandy, p.61: Three Men and an Old Woman in a Confrontation, Daniel Berger, 18th-19th century, Harvard Art Museums: Prints

Harvard Art Museums/Fogg Museum, Gift of Belinda L. Randall from the collection of John Witt Randall Size: design: 12.2 x 6.6 cm (4 13/16 x 2 5/8 in.)

Daniel Berger takes #CharlesSchwabChallenge in play-off

England’s Justin Rose narrowly missed a place in the playoff.