The Cognizant Classic saw two different types of golf history.
The Cognizant Classic wrapped up on Sunday and a hearty congratulations to Joe Highsmith is in order.
Life changed radically for Highsmith with his first PGA Tour win and in the process he made some interesting history. While Joe was lifting a trophy on Sunday evening, the odds of that seemed rather long on Friday afternoon as he made the cut on the number.
Highsmith sat at 5-under par upon Friday’s conclusion and needed a miracle to take home the title. Back-to-back rounds of 64, plus the field breaking his way, were enough to do just that and in the process Joe became only the fifth player to win after making the cut on the number in the last 20 seasons.
Players to make cut on number and go on to win tournament – PGA Tour last 20 seasons
2006 Chris Couch, Zurich Classic
2010 Rory McIlroy, Wells Fargo
2010 Carl Pettersson, RBC Canadian Open
2016 Brandt Snedeker, Farmers
2025 Joe Highsmith, Cognizant Classic— Justin Ray (@JustinRayGolf) March 2, 2025
Such a feat had not been reached in almost a decade as Brandt Snedeker was the last to do it. The overall point here is that it is a rare and a therefore historical thing.
History was sort of the theme of the week in Palm Beach though as the Cognizant began with Jake Knapp firing the 15th round of 59 or better in PGA Tour history. Knapp had an 8-shot lead on Highsmith as the weekend began by the way, a brutal reminder at how quickly things can turn in the game of golf.
The Cognizant was not without criticism as the Tour’s Florida swing got underway, but offering golf fans two different kinds of rarified achievements will certainly make it a fond memory that stands out at season’s end.
