Joe Highsmith claimed his maiden PGA Tour title at the Cognizant Classic after only just making the cut two days earlier.
As the fourth round of the PGA National tournament began, it was anyone’s guess who would claim victory, with a host of players in contention and Jake Knapp, who shot an amazing 59 in the first round, in the lead by one at 16-under ahead of Michael Kim.
For the first 10 holes, Knapp appeared to be in control. While he wasn’t able to pull away from the chasing pack, he kept his nose in front at the top of the leaderboard, even if he was briefly joined there at various points by Doug Ghim, playing partner Kim and Russell Henley on the front nine.
Even an alarming moment at the 10th, when Knapp found the gallery to the right of the fairway, wasn’t enough to stall his momentum, as he went onto birdie the par-5 and maintain his advantage. However, shortly after, Highsmith, who began four behind and was playing the 13th, made his sixth birdie of the day to tie the lead.
If Knapp’s performance to that point had been any kind of guide, few would have expected anything other than a continuation of his largely unflappable round, but disaster struck on the 11th, when his second shot failed to make it up the bank and onto the green, instead settling in shallow water.
Knapp took off his right shoe, rolled up the leg of his pants, placed his foot in the water and tried to salvage the situation. It didn’t work, with his third shot finding the ball back in the water a matter of feet in front of where he stood.
His fourth shot was better, but not by much, as he escaped the water but didn’t find the green, with his ball settling on the bank before he eventually made a triple-bogey, falling into the pack and back at 15-under in the process.
Winning is hard.Jake Knapp has been leading throughout the week.This triple bogey moves him from co-leader to T5, 3 back @The_Cognizant. pic.twitter.com/OSU3xg7LpRMarch 2, 2025
That left Highsmith with the solo lead, one ahead of Jacob Bridgeman and Ben Griffin with four to play.
The problem for Highsmith, who made the cut on the number on Friday evening, was that he then faced the notorious three-hole stretch known as The Bear Trap, although if he was nervous about the prospect it didn’t show. The 24-year-old showed poise and maturity to make par on the first two holes of the stretch before a brilliant birdie at the 17th thanks to holing a 20-foot putt to move two ahead.
Clutch when he needs it 💪@JoeHighsmith33 with a two-shot lead heading to 18 @The_Cognizant.📺 NBC pic.twitter.com/XkmuiuFkTrMarch 2, 2025
Knowing he likely just needed to hold onto what he had, Highsmith played it safe on the 18th, finishing with a par to leave only Henley, Griffin, Kim and Knapp with even the remotest chance of catching him as they played their closing holes. None came close, and the win was mathematically Highsmith’s before they finished.
The achievement means Highsmith becomes the first player to win a PGA Tour event after making the cut on the number since Brandt Snedeker nine years ago in the Farmers Insurance Open. Not only that, he’s just the 10th to achieve it in the last 50 years.
It also takes him from 123rd to 10th in the FedEx Cup standings, books his place in the remaining signature events this season and guarantees his place at the first Major of the year, The Masters.
Afterwards, he admitted the trip to Augusta National would be particularly special. He said: "Augusta National is a place that has a really special place in my heart. I've only been there a couple times as a spectator and I was able to play, fortunately, with a couple members last year. I mean, it is just like the most incredible place on earth."
COGNIZANT CLASSIC LEADERBOARD
- 1 Joe Highsmith -19
- T2 Jacob Bridgeman -17
- T2 J.J. Spaun -17
- T4 Max McGreevy -16
- T4 Ben Griffin -16
- T6 Michael Kim -15
- T6 Russell Henley -15
- T6 Jake Knapp -15
- T9 Jordan Spieth -14
- T9 Erik van Rooyen -14
- T11 Min Woo Lee -13
- T11 Max Greyserman -13
- T11 Shane Lowry -13
- T11 Brice Garnett -13
- T11 Doug Ghim -13
- T11 Andrew Putnam -13
- T11 Sepp Straka -13
Updates From...
JOE HIGHSMITH WINS COGNIZANT CLASSIC!
There are still four players on the course in the Cognizant Classic, but Joe Highsmith has won the event as none of the remaining players can catch him. For Highsmith, it's his maiden PGA Tour title and he's now in the remaining signature events this season as well as The Masters!
HIGHSMITH ON THE BRINK OF MAIDEN PGA TOUR WIN!
The state of play is that leader Joe Highsmith is back in the clubhouse with a two-shot advantage over two others who have finished on 19-under.
Still on the course is Ben Griffin, on 16-under, who is on the 18th and not likely to trouble him. Russell Henley is also three back heading to the 18th and all but out of contention too.
Short of an albatross from either Griffin or Henley, that leaves Jake Knapp and Michael Kim each on 15-under with three to complete and the only ones who can spoil Highsmith's big moment. Frankly, it's not looking likely as neither has looked like making a charge, and Knapp's triple-bogey at the 11th in particular looks like coming back to haunt him.
MATURE PERFORMANCE FROM THE LEADER
On his 18th, Joe Highsmith - playing in just his 34th PGA Tour event - is approaching the task at hand like a pro with dozens of big finishes under his belt. After finding the fairway with his first two, he's on the green with his third. There's nothing spectacular about any of this, but leading by two, he's determined to hold on to what he has, with a chance of extending his lead.
His birdie putt is from 47 feet downhill. It goes right but the pace is excellent. That'll be a par to send him back to the clubhouse on 19-under.
JOE HIGHSMITH STRETCHES HIS ADVANTAGE
Two down, one to go. Joe Highsmith faces the last of The Bear Trap's considerable challenges at the par-3 17th, which features a carry over water. Just what you need when you're looking for a maiden PGA Tour win...
He doesn't need to do anything fancy here... and he doesn't, placing his tee shot using his 7-iron to the right of the flag. That should lead to a par at the very least.
It's better than that - he drains it from 20 feet to move two ahead.
UNLUCKY FOR THE LEADER
On the par-4 16th - and the second of The Bear Trap - Highsmith finds the green in two to leave a 35-foot birdie chance. That would stretch his lead to two.
He's been putting beautifully all day, so you certainly wouldn't put it past him. Off it goes downhill... is it going in? No! It grazes the right edge of the hole and frustratingly stays out.
THE LEADER FACES THE BEAR TRAP
Joe Highsmith now has a chance to fully take advantage of Knapp's earlier problem. So, what's just about the last thing you need as you eye the chance of your maiden PGA Tour win? How about one of the most notorious stretches in golf, The Bear Trap?
He comes through the first of its three-hole test well enough, making par at the 15th...
KNAPP ALMOST BACK ON TRACK
Fair play, Jake Knapp! Lesser players would have fallen to pieces after that oh so costly experience at the 11th. Still, despite falling three behind the leader after a triple bogey, he almost salvages something with a long birdie chance at the 12th. Alas, it heads narrowly left but that's a warning to the others that he's not giving this one up without a big fight.
UNLIKELY OPENING FOR JOE HIGHSMITH
You have to fee for Jake Knapp after his calamity at the 11th, but PGA Tour golf is notoriously unforgiving, and his misfortune gives Joe Highsmith an unlikely chance of victory. He only made the cut on the number, but he finds himself one ahead of Ben Griffin and Jacob Bridgeman with four to play!
WHAT A TURNAROUND AT THE TOP
The upshot of Knapp's disastrous dalliance with the water at the 11th is he makes a triple bogey that moves him into the pack. That leaves him three off Joe Highsmith at the top of the leaderboard.
DISASTER AT THE 11TH FOR THE CO-LEADER
The drama continues for Knapp at the 11th. After a beautiful tee shot leaves him with 153 yards to go, his approach over a lake to the green fails to make it up the bank.
Meanwhile, at the 12th, Henley is in a greenside bunker with a proper fried egg and barely makes it out with his effort. He fails to hole his par putt from it meaning he'll fall at least another shot behind.
Back with Knapp and there are shades of Jean van de Velde at the 1999 Open as he has his right shoe off and his pant leg rolled up with his foot in the water as he tries to salvage the situation. Oh, no! It doesn't make it out. Off he goes again. This time it's on the bank, but this is proving costly...
Winning is hard.Jake Knapp has been leading throughout the week.This triple bogey moves him from co-leader to T5, 3 back @The_Cognizant. pic.twitter.com/OSU3xg7LpRMarch 2, 2025
KNAPP BIRDIES EVENTFUL 10TH
After Henley birdies the 10th to once again become joint leader, another of the players at the top of the leaderboard, Jake Knapp, finds the left of the fairway with his tee shot at the 10th.
Facing an approach shot some 209 yards from the hole, his body language doesn't look great and a few seconds later, you can see why, as his ball flies into a gallery to the right, lodging itself in the structure. He gets a free drop and takes his third from the right rough, 49 yards from the hole, and his next shot lands within six feet. That leaves an eventful birdie opportunity, and he takes it, moving to 18 under and in the outright lead again.
Soon after, Joe Highsmith then joins him at the top with a birdie at the 13th.
MIXED BAG FOR KNAPP
At the par-4 ninth, Knapp's tee shot over water gets a lucky break when his ball bounces of a tree trunk and lands just to the left of the fairway. Then he has a nice approach shot to leave another birdie chance, albeit from 41 feet.
While he's contemplating that, Joe Highsmith joins him in the lead with a birdie at the 11th. How can Knapp respond? Sadly for him, not in kind as his chance misses right. It's tight at the top!
LUCKY BREAK FOR JAKE
A the par-4 ninth, Knapp's tee shot over water gets a lucky break when his ball bounces of a tree trunk and lands just to the left of the fairway. Then he has a nice approach shot to leave another birdie chance, albeit from 41 feet.
STEADY FROM KNAPP
Knapp has another birdie look at the eighth from around 25 feet heading downhill.
Like much of his time on the greens so far today, it's fine - but not much more. It stops a foot or so left, leaving a near-certain par, but not the chance to extend his lead.
Right after, Jacob Bridgeman completes his round of 64 with a birdie to move level with Knapp.
SETBACK FOR HENLEY
At the eighth, co-leader Russell Henley has 10 feet to make par. It looks good, but... is that heading a touch right? Sadly for the 35-year-old, the answer is "yes" as it lips out, taking his status at the top of the leaderboard with it.
HENLEY JOINS KNAPP IN THE LEAD!
If Jake Knapp is to close out his second PGA Tour win, it seems increasingly likely he'll have to shake off a seasoned campaigner to do it. Four-time PGA Tour winner Russell Henley is now level with Knapp at 17-under after this third birdie of the day at the seventh.
END OF A MEMORABLE WEEK FOR CLANTON
Luke Clanton has had a hugely satisfactory week. On Friday he secured his PGA Tour card by making the cut, and he's just completed a final round of 69 to finish on 12-under. The Florida State player continues to impress on the PGA Tour and we'll surely be seeing a lot more of him towards the top of leaderboards in the future.
COSTLY FOR KIM
Onto the par-3 fifth, Knapp finds the center of the green, but with 44 feet to go, that's going to take some doing if he's to make birdie here. With the door ajar for Kim, he doesn't exactly force it open, leaving his tee shot to the left of the green and another 46 feet for birdie.
Knapp's birdie attempt is excellently judged, but it just fades at the last. Kim then hits his effort too hard and it keeps on going beyond the hole. Kim then misses his par attempt right to fall two off the lead.
Further on, Jacob Bridgeman completes his third successive birdie at the 15th to move one behind Knapp at 16-under.
ONTO THE FIFTH
Onto the par-3 fifth, Knapp finds the center of the green, but with 44 feet to go, that's going to take some doing if he's to make birdie here. With the door ajar for Kim, he doesn't exactly force it open, leaving his tee shot to the left of the green and another 46 feet for birdie.
CLOSE FOR KNAPP BUT LEAD STAYS AT ONE
At the fourth, there's a chance for Jake Knapp to move two ahead of Michael Kim at the top as he puts his second shot to within 12 feet of the hole for a birdie chance. Kim's not as successful. His ball lands on the green before trickling off the back to leave a far more difficult proposition.
Kim's first, putting from way out, only to find his birdie chance disappear as it breaks right past the hole. Knapp then gets closer, but it runs out of steam, stubbornly refusing to find the extra inch or so it needs to drop.
KIM AND KNAPP SETTING THE PACE
Now it's Michael Kim's turn to keep Knapp company at the top of the leaderboard. He moves to 16-under with a confident birdie putt on the third that finds the center of the hole from eight feet. If that ruffles Knapp, it doesn't show as he matches the feat seconds after to move back into the solo lead at 17-under.
SPIETH ON THE CHARGE
One player who has flown under the radar so far this week is three-time Major winner Jordan Spieth. Don't write off his chances just yet, though. He makes a birdie on the ninth to join a host of players at 13-under, three behind leader Jake Knapp. Could he make a back-nine run for his first PGA Tour win since the 2022 RBC Heritage?
TIGHT LEADERBOARD
It's safe to say things are congested towards the business end of the leaderboard, with six players three off the lead, another three two off the lead, five more within one after Doug Ghim makes a bogey at the fourth and Jake Knapp at the top!
TIED AT THE TOP
Knapp has a long birdie putt on the second as he attempts to shake off Doug Ghim at the top of the leaderboard. It doesn't quite have the legs, though. He makes no mistake with the par putt and remains at 16-under heading to the par-5 third.
GHIM FOR THE WIN?
Right behind Knapp on the leaderboard is Doug Ghim. He's yet to win on the PGA Tour - or at any point in his professional career for that matter. Could this be the day that changes? He's off to an encouraging start, with a birdie at the first before making par at the second.
And just like that, Ghim joins Knapp at the top with a birdie at the third!
LUKE ON THE MOVE
One of the big movers of the day so far is Luke Clanton, who began the day six behind overnight leader Jake Knapp. He's currently T5 just two behind Knapp. However, he's on the 14th hole while Knapp has just got started. The leader is looking for his second PGA Tour win after victory at the 2024 Mexico Open.
WELCOME
Hello and welcome to Golf Monthly's coverage of the final round of the 2025 Cognizant Classic at PGA National Resort in Florida.
With one of the most tightly-packed leaderboards in recent times, an increasingly difficult golf course and blustery weather conditions on show, we are sure for a fascinating end to this week's PGA Tour event.
The leaders are just about to tee off, so all that's left to say is thank you for tuning in and enjoy the ride until a winner is crowned!