CROMWELL, Conn. -- If you just quickly glance at Daniel Berger's recent results table, it might seem like he's carried momentum from his first career victory into a three-stroke lead after three rounds here at the Travelers Championship.
After all, that triumph at the FedEx St. Jude Classic was just three starts ago, so it's only natural to infer that this week's performance is simply a continuation of that success.
That presumption couldn't be further from the truth.
It was during Berger's win in Memphis that he strained his left shoulder. He doesn't know how, or even when. But he knows it started to hurt him that week. He played through it, claimed the trophy, then played the next week's U.S. Open, making the cut, though finishing well out of contention.
Two weeks later, the shoulder still hurting, he withdrew from the WGC-Bridgestone Invitational, then flew to New York for an MRI.
The good news was that it wasn't a serious injury; there was no tear or structural damage. The bad news was that it was in a sensitive spot and didn't seem to be healing quickly.
"Every single week I'm like, all right, I'm going to play this week and I'm chipping and putting, but I wasn't hitting any balls," he said. "[Then] three days before the tournament, I'm like, all right, still can't hit balls, probably not a good idea to go play, and had to pull out of the British [Open], which sucked. But I feel like I've done everything right to this point, so to be here right now has kind of been part of my plan."
Where he is right now is leading by three over a trio of contenders -- Russell Knox, Tyrone van Aswegen and Russell Henley -- in search of his second victory in four starts, without any palpable momentum in between them.
Berger maintained that during competition the shoulder injury isn't still hurting him, though admitted it does afterward.
"Tonight it'll definitely be sore, and I'll ice and get some treatment," he said after his third-round 62.
That's right: 62.
Already in contention, Berger stepped on the gas pedal Saturday, dropping nine birdies against just a single bogey.
Posting a score just two shy of the course record would be impressive for any player, but it's especially impressive for a guy who hasn't played much golf over the past few months and is still dealing with that bothersome shoulder.
"I've never played a golf tournament in my life injured, but I talked to some of the other guys, and Jerry Kelly told me in his 600 starts, more than half of them he was feeling bad," said Berger. "I guess you've got to learn to play hurt a little bit, obviously, if you're not going to hurt it anymore. But it feels great this week and if I do the right things, then hopefully it's gone forever."
He has more motivation than just recovering from the injury.
A win would likely move Berger from 18th in the United States Ryder Cup standings to 12th, within striking distance of the eight automatic roster spots for this year's team. He wants to reach that goal for the obvious reasons, sure, but there's another one that is keeping him inspired, too.
His father, Jay, twice represented the U.S. in the Davis Cup -- tennis' closest competition to the Ryder Cup. He won a singles match in both 1988 and 1990, helping his country win the title in the second of those years.
"I think that would be pretty cool to have father and son play Davis Cup and Ryder Cup," said the younger Berger. "So that's one of my goals. But if it's not this year then I'll look toward the next one, but I know I'll be great in that environment and I'll be tough to beat, whoever Mr. Clarke put up against me."
He won't even need any momentum.
As Berger is showing this week, even coming off an injury, he's been able to pick up right where he left off beforehand.
