FROM ZERO TO HERO: After nearly missing cut, Highsmith lifts PGA trophy

MIAMI (AFP) — American Joe Highsmith earned his first win on the PGA Tour after a final round 7-under-par 64 clinched the Cognizant Classic at Palm Beach Gardens by two strokes.

The 24-year-old flirted with the cut-line on Friday when he made a second-round 72, but back-to-back rounds of 64 saw him in the clubhouse on 19-under for the tournament.

That proved too much for the chasing field that included Jake Knapp, who shot an opening round 59 and had led after each of the first three rounds.

A triple bogey from Knapp on the 11th hole wrecked his dream of a wire-to-wire triumph as Highsmith snaffled the $1.7 million prize and earned a place in the Masters and the elite signature events.

“Obviously, winning was the last thing on my mind. I was just trying to go out there and execute just shot after shot, and I was able to do that really well,” Highsmith said.

“I had kind of a feeling coming down the stretch, I was playing really good and had made no mistakes. I was like, maybe I would have a chance and started to get a little ahead of myself. But incredible to come out on top. I mean, it was so tough out there and I played the best round of my life for sure.”

A pivotal birdie on the 17th hole gave Highsmith a two-shot cushion heading to the par-5 18th, where a steady par sealed the deal and a bogey-free round.

Highsmith’s mother was present to watch his round but had planned to leave at the turn to catch a flight home before her son’s performance forced her to change plans and stay to the end.

“I played great on the front and then I saw her on the 12th hole, I was like, yeah, she canceled her flight and I’m really glad that she was able to stay. She’s been so incredible throughout my whole golf life. So, I’m so thankful for her,” he added.

Jacob Bridgeman who shot 64 and J.J. Spaun who carded 66 finished tied for second place, two shots behind Highsmith.

Knapp was left to rue his treble bogey on the 11th hole, where he drove his second shot to the edge of the greenside water and his attempt to blast the ball out, from bad footing, back-fired as it spun off the banking and into the water.

“It’s just one of those shots you just have to end up hitting a little bit harder than I did,” Knapp said of his decision not to take a drop.

“Honestly, I think I played super solid. I mis-hit the one shot on 11 and that was kind of the only thing I’d really take back. It would have been nice to make some more putts, but the pins were more challenging today,” he said.

“Just bummed about 11. It was really the only bad swing of the day,” he said.

Knapp finished tied for sixth on 15-under for the week, four behind Highsmith.

Max McGreevy (67) and Ben Griffin (69) tied for fourth place at 16 under.