How Daniel Berger found his caddie for the 2024 American Express

HONOLULU – Daniel Berger is about to make his return to the PGA Tour after an 18-month absence Thursday on the American Categorical in La Quinta, California. However the higher story could also be who can be carrying his bag.

Berger is about to have veteran caddie D.J. Nelson, who was on the bag for Heath Slocum when he received the 2009 Barclays, working for him within the desert. Nelson, who additionally has caddied for the likes of Chad Campbell and Hudson Swafford previously, nevertheless, hasn’t been caddying on Tour for a number of years.

So, why did Berger flip to Nelson, who started caddying in 2001?

Right here’s the place the story will get good. Berger phoned Nelson and tried to rent him. Based on a number of sources – Berger didn’t return a name for remark at publication of this story – when Nelson accepted, Berger expressed shock and requested, “So, you’re going to surrender doing the TV?”

A perplexed Nelson responded, “Who do you suppose you’re speaking to?”

“John Wooden,” Berger mentioned.

Wooden, after all, is the previous caddie of Hunter Mahan and Matt Kuchar, amongst others, turned NBC/Golf Channel on-course reporter. Probably the most revered caddies within the recreation, he retired and joined the TV world in 2021 and mentioned this week on the Sony Open, the place he’s been working, that he’s joyful along with his new gig carrying a microphone as a substitute of 14 golf equipment.

When Berger realized his mistake in dialing the fallacious quantity, he didn’t blink and provided Nelson the job – no less than for one week on the AmEx.

As one former caddie put it, “Traditional Berger.” However perhaps Berger knew one thing in any case: Nelson has monitor document at PGA West including being on the bag for Swafford when he received there in 2017.

The 30-year-old Berger, a four-time Tour winner, has been sidelined with a again damage since lacking the lower on the 2022 U.S. Open. He had been nursing the damage, which he described to the Related Press as being a slight bulge in a decrease disc and deep bone sensitivity, for many of that 12 months. He signed up for U.S. Open qualifying in June however pulled out earlier than he hit a shot.

Berger was a member of the victorious U.S. Ryder Cup staff at Whistling Straits that 12 months and was sorely missed in Italy in September. He was ranked No. 25 on this planet when he final performed and has since dropped to No. 634. He nonetheless has exempt standing by means of 2024 from notching his final win on the 2021 AT&T Pebble Seaside Professional-Am, however isn’t certified but for the signature occasions or majors.

“After I come again, I’ll come again with fireplace in my stomach,” he informed the AP in Might.

And with a shocking caddie by his aspect.