Daniel Berger Leads Arnold Palmer Invitational with Stellar 63

Healthy again after injuries, Berger takes early 3-shot lead at Bay Hill

Published on Mar. 5, 2026

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Daniel Berger, a 32-year-old Florida native, carded a blistering 9-under 63 in the first round of the Arnold Palmer Invitational, taking a 3-shot lead over Collin Morikawa. Berger's round included 9 birdies and was just one off the course record at Bay Hill. The last few years have been challenging for Berger, who has dealt with a back injury and a broken finger, but he appears to have regained his form and is poised for his first PGA Tour win since 2021.

Why it matters

Berger's strong performance at the prestigious Arnold Palmer Invitational, one of the PGA Tour's signature events, marks a significant comeback for the Florida native after a string of injuries that had sidelined him for extended periods. A win here would be a major boost to Berger's career and validate his perseverance through adversity.

The details

Berger carded 6 birdies on the back nine and 9 total, leading the field in both Strokes Gained: Tee to Green and Strokes Gained: Putting. He birdied all 4 par 5s at Bay Hill. The last few years have been difficult for Berger, who was sidelined for 19 months with a back injury and then missed several months after breaking his right ring finger last August. However, he appears to have fully recovered and is playing some of the best golf of his career.

  • Berger carded his 63 on Thursday, March 5, 2026 in the first round of the Arnold Palmer Invitational.
  • Berger was sidelined for 19 months with a back injury prior to last season.
  • Berger broke his right ring finger in August 2025 and missed several months of play.

The players

Daniel Berger

A 32-year-old PGA Tour professional who grew up in Florida and played two seasons at Florida State University. Berger has 4 career PGA Tour victories but has been hampered by injuries the last few years.

Collin Morikawa

A top-ranked PGA Tour player who is currently in second place, 3 shots behind Berger, after the first round.

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What they’re saying

“It's just nice to be in Florida. I love it.”

— Daniel Berger (Golfweek)

“The finger that I broke and where I broke it actually ended up being more of a pain in the butt than I thought it was going to be. The nature of the injury is it can take up to a year to feel normal, from what the doctors tell me. So it's been basically six months.”

— Daniel Berger (Golfweek)

What’s next

Berger will look to maintain his strong play over the next three rounds as he seeks his first PGA Tour victory since 2021. The course conditions at Bay Hill are expected to become increasingly challenging, testing Berger's ability to 'hit it in the fairway and try to make as many putts as you can'.

The takeaway

Daniel Berger's comeback from a series of injuries, capped by his brilliant 63 in the first round of the Arnold Palmer Invitational, demonstrates the perseverance and determination required to succeed at the highest levels of professional golf. His performance has put him in prime position to end a 5-year winless drought on the PGA Tour.