American Joe Highsmith won his first PGA Tour title after a remarkable turnaround over the final two rounds of the Cognizant Classic at PGA National in Florida.
On Friday the 24-year-old had to make a five-foot putt on the last just to make the cut in Palm Beach Gardens and he went into the third round eight shots back.
However, he then carded back-to-back seven-under par 64s to charge through the field and top the leaderboard on 19 under. His score for the final 36 holes was the lowest in tournament history.
He is the first player in nine years on the PGA Tour to win after making the cut on the number.
Highsmith described his bogey-free fourth round as “probably the best of my life”, with four birdies in five holes from the ninth the key to putting himself in contention.
In that same stretch of holes overnight leader Jake Knapp threw away his chance of winning after opting to play his ball out of the water at the par-four 11th, failing and subsequently carding a triple-bogey seven.
Highsmith eventually finished two clear of compatriots Jacob Bridgeman and JJ Spaun, and in addition to his PGA Tour breakthrough he has now booked a major debut at next month’s Masters as well as gaining entry to the remaining lucrative signature events.
