- 24-year-old Highsmith records lowest weekend score (14-under 128) in PGA National history
- First player since 2016 to make cut on number and win tournament
- Secures Masters invitation and entry to remaining 2024 signature events
- Jake Knapp's 11th-hole triple bogey costs wire-to-wire victory chance
- PGA National's overseeded conditions yield tournament-record scoring
In a stunning reversal of fortune, Joe Highscript transformed his weekend from cut-line anxiety to championship glory at PGA National. The 24-year-old left-hander's 14-under-par performance across Saturday and Sunday set a new tournament benchmark, eclipsing previous records at the challenging Florida venue that has hosted multiple majors.
Highsmith's victory lap began with clutch putting on Friday's cut line and crested with three consecutive birdies starting at the 9th hole Sunday. His 20-foot birdie putt at the infamous 17th water hole sealed the win, demonstrating composure beyond his years. The Washington native's 265 total (-19) now stands as the lowest 72-hole score since the Cognizant Classic moved to PGA National in 2007.
The tournament's dramatic final round saw five different leaders before Highsmith's late surge. Jacob Bridgeman's closing 64 and J.J. Spaun's 66 earned them joint runner-up positions, while Jordan Spieth's mid-round charge fizzled with late bogeys. Florida State amateur Luke Clanton capitalized on the softer course conditions to secure a top-20 finish and PGA Tour card through collegiate pathways.
Critical to Highsmith's success was the course's overseeded preparation, which reduced rough penalties and enabled aggressive approach play. PGA National's superintendent team had implemented winter ryegrass to maintain playability, creating conditions that yielded 32% more sub-par rounds compared to 2023. This agronomic strategy aligns with Florida's growing trend of optimizing courses for year-round tournament readiness.
Industry analysts note Highsmith's win continues the PGA Tour's youth movement, marking the seventh first-time winner under 25 in the past 18 months. His partnership with caddie Joe LaCava IV - carrying forward a family legacy that includes Tiger Woods' 2019 Masters win - highlights the increasing value of veteran course management in developing young talent.
With the victory, Highsmith joins Brian Campbell as back-to-back first-time winners on Tour. The Cognizant Classic result reshapes the FedEx Cup standings, with six players from Sunday's leaderboard qualifying for this week's Arnold Palmer Invitational. PGA National's ability to produce dramatic finishes despite scoring-friendly conditions reinforces its status as South Florida's premier tournament test.
