The Grant Thornton Invitational is unlike anything else in golf—a rare opportunity for PGA Tour and LPGA stars to team up as equals. It’s not just about the competition, it’s also about building connections and giving fans a fresh look at how their favorite players interact. Take Lexi Thompson, for example, who recently surprised Rickie Fowler with an orange birthday cake—a nod to his signature color and a sweet moment that showed how much thought goes into these partnerships. And now the spotlight is on World No. 1 Nelly Korda and her last-minute partner, Daniel Berger, who’ve already created their share of laugh-out-loud moments.

Their partnership kicked off Friday with the scramble format, and on Saturday, things got serious (well, sort of) with the alternate shot. After Round 2 at Tiburón Golf Club, they sit at 11 under nine shots back of leaders Patty Tavatanakit and Jake Knapp. But forget the leaderboard for a second—what really stood out were the hilarious moments between these two on and off the course.

Berger couldn’t help but notice Korda’s unconventional warm-up routine—or lack of one. “He chirps my warm-up,” Korda shared. “He’s like, ‘So you don’t hit a shot for 30 minutes before your first game.’ And I’m like, ‘Yeah.’” Well, let’s face it: who needs practice swings when you’re Nelly Korda, right?

Berger, on the other hand, got a crash course in Nelly Korda’s winter hobbies. “What I found out is that she likes the snow, and she likes sled-dogging…dog sledding. She’s going dog sledding,” he said, laughing at his own verbal detour.

Of course, Korda didn’t let him off the hook, throwing a playful jab about his current fitness goals. “I found out that, you know, he’s on his way to 185,” she joked, adding, “So, a lot of PB&Js and protein shakes on the golf course.”

The playful back-and-forth has been a highlight of the tournament. Their vibe is exactly what the Grant Thornton Invitational is all about—serious golf with a hint of personal touch. But how did this pairing even come about?

How did Nelly Korda and Daniel Berger get paired?

Notably, Daniel Berger didn’t exactly sound prepared for the tournament and received a last-minute call to substitute for Tony Finau. As he told Korda, he’d been spending more time on tennis courts than golf courses. “Yeah, I asked him, ‘You do know we’re playing golf, not tennis, right?’” Korda joked.

Even so, Berger has fit right in. “It’s been very easy,” he said. “She hits it in the fairway, she hits it on the green, she makes putts. I mean, it’s pretty clear why she’s No. 1 in the world and I need to get my act together and play a little bit better the next, at least one more day, and see what we can do tomorrow.”

Berger even got a surprise in their first round when he pulled out a 7-iron and saw Korda doing the same. “There was a couple times where I hit one in there yesterday and I looked in her bag, and she was hitting the same club I was hitting and I was like wow. It’s just impressive all around,” he said.

Korda, meanwhile, has been loving Berger’s fade—something she doesn’t see much of on the LPGA Tour. “Gosh, he hit so many fairways, really great iron play, and on top of that he rolls it really well,” she said after their round. “He checks all the boxes. He has a new fan in me.”

Berger caught a little off guard, and replied with a bashful, “Oh wow, thank you.” Korda even promised to star him on her PGA Tour app, sealing what looks like the start of a fun friendship.

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