PEBBLE BEACH, CA - FEBRUARY 15: Collin Morikawa of the United States looks on at 16th hole during the final round of the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am 2026 on February 15, 2026 at Pebble Beach Golf Links in Pebble Beach, CA. Photo by Matthew Huang/Icon Sportswire GOLF: FEB 15 PGA, Golf Herren AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am EDITORIAL USE ONLY Icon2602150234
PEBBLE BEACH, CA - FEBRUARY 15: Collin Morikawa of the United States looks on at 16th hole during the final round of the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am 2026 on February 15, 2026 at Pebble Beach Golf Links in Pebble Beach, CA. Photo by Matthew Huang/Icon Sportswire GOLF: FEB 15 PGA, Golf Herren AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am EDITORIAL USE ONLY Icon2602150234
Daniel Berger is setting the pace at the Arnold Palmer Invitational. His on-course confidence is no surprise to Collin Morikawa. The major champion weighed in on Berger's personality, referencing their shared history and the ego required to compete at golf's highest level.
“I think we're all confident in our own way, right. We all have our egos,” a seven-time PGA Tour winner said during the press conference of the Arnold Palmer Invitational on Friday. “You have to have an ego in some regards to be able to go out here and compete. He's one that will vocalize it and I think we all know that and there's nothing wrong with that.”
Chasing his first PGA Tour victory in five years, Daniel Berger set the pace early at the Bay Hill Club & Lodge on Thursday. Starting in the morning wave, Berger posted a 9-under 63 to take the opening-round lead. The round placed him three shots ahead heading into Friday.
Right behind him, Collin Morikawa and Ludvig Åberg carded 6-under 66s. Morikawa played in the morning group, while Åberg recorded the lowest score among the afternoon starters.
Morikawa, seeking his second signature event title of the 2026 season, closed his round with a late surge. He made an eagle on the 16th hole, followed by two birdies, finishing with one of the best three-hole stretches of his career at Bay Hill.
Speaking during the press conference, Morikawa reflected on the times he had shared pairings with Daniel Berger earlier in his career.
Collin Morikawa on Daniel Berger: “When He’s Getting Going, It Shows”
After spending more than a year away from competition due to a back issue, Daniel Berger has worked his way back into contention on the PGA Tour. His current run at the Arnold Palmer Invitational shows his progress since returning from that setback.
And the 2026 season is showing signs of stability. Berger recorded a top-six finish at the Sony Open and now finds himself leading the field at Bay Hill.
Morikawa also spoke about being paired with Berger earlier in his career.
“I haven't played with him as much recently. I played a good amount with him on TOUR just in pairings early on in my career. But he's a great player. When he's getting going, obviously it shows,” Morikawa said.
What do you think of Daniel Berger’s confidence on the PGA Tour? Let us know in the comments!
Trending slideshow: PGA Tour Players Making the Most Birdies This Season, Ranked
Eknoor Juneja
PGA Tour Players Making the Most Birdies This Season, RankedTo win on the PGA Tour, you have to be a scoring machine. We often think that making a record-breaking number of birdies means an automatic trophy, but that isn't always the case. Sungjae Im proved this when he made an incredible 34 birdies in one tournament. Even though he broke a long-standing record held by greats like Jon Rahm, he still didn't walk away with the win. It shows that while chasing circles on the scorecard is vital, avoiding the big mistakes matters just as much. The players leading the pack right now are finding ways to stack up scores that most golfers only dream of. They play with an aggressive style that keeps them in contention week after week. Check out the current list of the most prolific scorers on tour to see who is leading the birdie race. Matthew Huang/Icon Sportswire/ImagoKeeping things incredibly steady allows this 5-time winner to average exactly 5.00 birdies per round. Such reliable scoring, totaling 70 birdies over 14 rounds, helped the 2025 Arnold Palmer Invitational champ lock in a spot on his first Ryder Cup team. Greig Cowie/Shutterstock/ImagoAthleticism runs deep for the son of a rugby legend. High energy on the course helped him successfully grab 60 birdies over 12 rounds by relying on massive distance and a very aggressive style. Steve Flynn/Golffile/ImagoOvercoming a mid-season slump allowed the 2022 U.S. Open winner to rack up 80 birdies in 16 rounds through elite ball-striking. Finding his world-class form again proves precision iron play can fix almost any scoring drought, even when the flatstick is cold. Jeff Siner/Newscom World/ImagoFighting for every green has led this gritty Scotsman to 81 birdies in 16 rounds. A massive summer surge and a Top 10 world ranking breakthrough helped him hunt down every possible scoring opportunity. Marco Iacobucci/IPA Sport/ImagoFamous iron play makes the hardest courses look easy for this superstar. By sticking approach shots close, he averages 5.07 birdies per round and has already tallied 71 total circles during his 14 rounds.. via Aflo Sport/ImagoJumping 12 spots in the Birdie Average rankings was easy after finding 61 birdies over 12 rounds. The 2024 Olympic flag bearer uses legendary short-game creativity to grab scores from impossible spots. Stefano Di Maria/Golffile/ImagoA rapid rise continues for this former world number 1 amateur who matches a 5.08 average. Fearless driving helped him set up 61 birdies through his first 12 rounds of play. Michael Wade/Icon Sportswire/ImagoLooking sharp after back surgery, this ball-striking wizard holds an elite 5.17 average. He thrives on difficult layouts and picked up 31 birdies in 6 rounds, showing the same magic that nearly won him the 2022 U.S. Open. Petter Arvidson/Bildbyran/ImagoLeading the pack with 124 total birdies comes naturally to this grinder. Despite a heartbreaking 5-way playoff loss earlier this year, he remains a persistent pin-seeker over 24 rounds. Steven Garcia/ZUMA Press Wire/ImagoYouthful confidence helps this 2023 NCAA champion maintain a hot hand with 83 birdies over 16 rounds. The Walker Cup star stays ranked among the most prolific scorers by keeping his foot on the gas every round. Tony Ding/Icon Sportswire/ImagoSneaking onto courses as a kid was just the start for the 2025 FedExCup Champion. Now World No. 3, he dominates by averaging 5.25 birdies per round (42 total over 8 rounds) during a highly efficient season. Andre Engelmann/ImagoCompleting the career Grand Slam at Augusta hasn't slowed down this powerhouse. Crushing par 5s helps him average 5.38 birdies per round, reaching 43 total birdies in just 8 short weeks of play. Javier Rojas/ZUMA Press Wire/ImagoClimbing 2 spots was possible by averaging 5.40 birdies per outing. Since his big 2014 breakthrough, he has mastered the art of the birdie binge, racking up 54 scores under par in 10 rounds. Karl Anderson/Icon Sportswire/ImagoRelentless aggression defines this 2026 Genesis Invitational winner, who has 110 birdies across 20 rounds. Lessons from pro Tommy Biershenk helped him reach a massive 5.50 average. Ariana Ruiz/ZUMA Press Wire/ImagoSitting untouchable at the top, the World No. 1 maintains a staggering 5.88 birdie average. With 20 career titles and 4 majors (adding the 2025 PGA and Open Championships) before age 30, he has tallied 94 birdies in 16 rounds. Javier Rojas/ZUMA Press Wire/Imago
