Joe Highsmith Facts: 15 Things To Know About The Cognizant Classic Winner
Get to know the life and career of PGA Tour winner Joe Highsmith a little better...


Joe Highsmith shot to fame at the 2025 Cognizant Classic, where the left-hander made the cut on the number before going 64-64 to win his maiden PGA Tour title.
His win got him into his first ever Masters and some of the game's biggest events, coming just three years after turning pro following four years at Pepperdine University.
So, how well do you know the left-hander? Get to know Joe Highsmith's life and career so far a little better with these facts...
Joe Highsmith facts:
1. He was born in Lakewood, Washington.
2. He attended Pepperdine University, the same college that Sahith Theegala attended. Highsmith majored in communication studies and was a two-time All-American, while he graduated with the program's fifth-best scoring average (71.45).
3. The left-hander grew up playing at Tacoma Country & Golf Club with Korn Ferry Tour player RJ Manke, who he went on to be teammates with at Pepperdine.
4. He was part of the victorious 2017 US Junior Presidents Cup team.
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5. Highsmith turned professional in 2022 and initially played on the PGA Tour Canada.
6. He played on the Korn Ferry Tour in 2023 and graduated up to the PGA Tour in 2024.
7. He played the piano for 12 years according to his PGA Tour bio.
8. His caddie is Joe LaCava Jr, son of Fred Couples' and Tiger Woods' former caddie. The pair got their first PGA Tour win together at the 2025 Cognizant Classic.
9. Highsmith became the first player since 2016 to win a PGA Tour event after making the cut on the number.
10. He shot his career 72-hole low at the 2025 Cognizant Classic of 265 (-19).
11. Highsmith's 265 at PGA National was the venue's lowest ever score in a PGA Tour event, while his 128 weekend total was also the lowest final 36 holes in tournament history.
12. He qualified for his first ever Masters thanks to his Cognizant Classic win.
13. He attended the 2024 Masters as a spectator.
14. He reached a career-high world ranking of 59th after his maiden PGA Tour win.
15. He uses a full bag of Titleist clubs, including a Pro V1 ball.
Born | Lakewood, Washington, |
Height | 5'9" |
College | Pepperdine University |
Turned pro | 2022 |
PGA Tour wins | 1 |
Event | Tour | Score |
2025 Cognizant Classic | PGA Tour | -19 (2 strokes) |
Row 2 - Cell 0 | Row 2 - Cell 1 | Row 2 - Cell 2 |
Elliott Heath is our News Editor and has been with Golf Monthly since early 2016 after graduating with a degree in Sports Journalism. He manages the Golf Monthly news team as well as our large Facebook, Twitter and Instagram pages. He covered the 2022 Masters from Augusta National as well as five Open Championships on-site including the 150th at St Andrews. His first Open was in 2017 at Royal Birkdale, when he walked inside the ropes with Jordan Spieth during the Texan's memorable Claret Jug triumph. He has played 35 of our Top 100 golf courses, with his favourites being both Sunningdales, Woodhall Spa, Western Gailes, Old Head and Turnberry. He has been obsessed with the sport since the age of 8 and currently plays off of a six handicap. His golfing highlights are making albatross on the 9th hole on the Hotchkin Course at Woodhall Spa, shooting an under-par round, playing in the Aramco Team Series on the Ladies European Tour and making his one and only hole-in-one at the age of 15 - a long time ago now!
Elliott is currently playing:
Driver: Titleist TSR4
3 wood: Titleist TSi2
Hybrids: Titleist 816 H1
Irons: Mizuno MP5 5-PW
Wedges: Cleveland RTX ZipCore 50, 54, 58
Putter: Odyssey White Hot OG #5
Ball: Srixon Z Star XV
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