Joe Highsmith clutch putts his way to a historic win

Mar 3/2025 - JOE HIGHSMITH's win at the 2025 Cognizant Classic is the kind of Cinderella story that makes golf so much fun. On Friday, he was one shaky putt away from missing the cut...a measly 4'7" putt away from going home early and thinking 'now what?'  But he made the clutch putt, and by Sunday, he was holding the trophy, a$1.65 million cheque, and a ticket to The Masters. Wow!

That putt added a historic element to the win as Highsmith became the first player in nearly a decade to win after barely making the cut. And he didn’t just sneak by; he torched PGA National, firing back-to-back 64s and setting a tournament record for the lowest 36-hole weekend score.

His putter? Absolutely on fire. He drained 231 feet of putts, including some ridiculous bombs from 14, 20, and even 35 feet. I guess that stressful putt brough on some superman style confidence for the final few rounds!

And let’s not forget—he outdueled JAKE KNAPP (who dropped a 59 earlier!) proving he can hang with the best. Like the prior 2 weeks and their first time winners, this life-changing win secures his PGA Tour card through 2027 and guarantees him spots in golf’s biggest tournaments.

All of it made possible because he kept his cool, his nerves calm and draining that cut missing putt on Friday. Golf, man. What a game.

5 FUN GOLFER FACTS FROM THE 2025 COGNIZANT CLASSIC IN THE PALM BEACHES

• This was HIGHSMITH's 1st PGA Tour Victory in only his 34th start at the age of 24 years, 10 months, 11 days

• He became only the 6th player since 2003 to win after making the cut on the number, which was -5.  The last time it happened was 9 years ago back in 2016 when BRANDT SNEDEKER was able to do it

• HIGHSMITH's 4 stroke final day comeback is the largest final-round comeback of the season so far

• He is the first left-handed winner on the TOUR this year.  If your wondering...the last left handed winner was MATT MCCARTY at the 2024 Black Desert Championship

• With this win HIGHSMITH takes the top spot in two season long categories as he became the youngest winner, and the shortest winner so fat this year

4 FUN GOLFER FACTS ABOUT JOE HIGHSMITH

• HIGHSMITH is also an accomplished pickleball player and has been heard claiming he might just be a better pickleball player than golfer.  I winder if he still thinks that now with a win under his belt?

• HIGHSMITH is also pretty talented at music as he played piano for 12 years

• HIGHSMITH's mother, Anne, was going to leave the 2025 Cognizant Classic early, but changed her travel plans once he stated climbing the leaderboard

• HIGHSMITH attended Pepperdine University, where he graduated with the programs 5th best scoring average at 71.45