Joe Highsmith won his first PGA Tour title after a remarkable turnaround in the last two towers of Cognizant Classic in PGA National in Florida.
The 24-year-old had to do a five-foot putt on the last one just to cut halfway on Friday at Palm Beach Gardens, leaving him eight, only to load the ranking with an incredible return from the weekend.
Highsmith carded seven 64 under the age of 64 to take care of the field and set the goal of the clubhouse at 19, with the last 36 holes of the lowest American in the history of the tournament and ensuring a two-stroke victory.
He is the first player in nine years on the PGA Tour to win after reducing the number, following the success of Brandt Snedeker in Farmers Insurance 2016, with Rory McILroy among the other players for having reached this century.
Highsmith described his fourth round without Bogey as “probably the best of my life”, with four birdies in five holes of the ninth to put himself.
In this same stretch of holes, the night leader, Jake Knapp – hunting a wire victory – threw his chance to win after choosing to play his ball out of the water in the 11th by four, failing and thereafter breaking up a seven of the Bogey Triple.
Highsmith finally finished two qualifiers for compatriots Jacob Bridgeman and JJ Spaun, who posted 64 and 66 towers respectively, with Max McGreevy and Ben Griffin three strokes in a part of the fourth.
Knapp – who carded a 59 -day history tour – ended with a sixth century after a 72 final, while Jordan Spieth finished in a ninth and Shane Lowry part claimed the 11th on the 13th.
Highsmith’s victory means that he will gain an automatic entry into the rest of the PGA Tour’s signed events this season, as well as an invitation to Masters for his major beginnings next month and a place in the PGA championship.
What is the next step?
The PGA Tour remains in Florida for the Arnold Palmer Invitational presented by Mastercard, held at Arnold Palmer’s Bay Hill Club & Lodge in Orlando, Florida. Scottie Scheffler returns as a defending champion and Rory McILroy is back in action.
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