A little Tiger Woods magic might just have rubbed off on Joe Highsmith who enjoyed a weekend to remember on the PGA Tour.
The American mounted a stunning comeback to win the Cognizant Classic in Florida, rising from the bottom of the leaderboard after two rounds, to a remarkable two shot victory that may change his life.
His biggest shot of the tournament came on Friday, when he needed a five-foot putt on the 18th just to make the cut.
Highsmith had just run his birdie effort uncomfortably past the pin and stood over the return knowing it was a must-make to just get into the weekend.
However it’s one he usually misses: A slick right-to-left breaker on a bumpy green.
“It was like the worst putt you’d ever want,” he said of the challenge.
Had the 24-year-old missed that par try, he would have missed his fourth cut in six starts on the tour this season.
Instead, Highsmith rattled his putt into the back of the hole and secured a tee time for the next morning.
From nowhere he produced a pair of seven-under par 64s – the lowest 36-hole score in the 53-year history of the event – to finish on 19-under and secure a first-ever PGA Tour win.
“I played probably the best round of my life,” Highsmith said of his run to the top of the leader board, which included four birdies in five holes from ninth and a putt from nearly 21 feet on the 17th.
“My mom was supposed to leave at the turn but I was like, ‘well what if I’m like five-under through nine, mom?’
“I played great on the front and then I saw her on the 12th hole and was like, ‘yeah, she cancelled her flight.’”
Highsmith’s effort is just the third time in 15 years a player has made the cut on the cut-line number and gone on to win – he is the first to do so since since Brandt Snedeker at the 2016 Farmers Insurance Open.
And while the American’s comeback win thrust him into the spotlight, fans watching on might not have realized who was carrying his bag.
Highsmith’s caddie is Joe LaCava IV, the son of Tiger Woods’ former bagman.
Their partnership came about after they met two years ago on the Korn Ferry Tour, and his win alongside Highsmith at the Cognizant Classic was also the first of LaCava IV’s career.
His dad, Joe LaCava III, memorably carried Woods’ bag during his 2019 Masters victory, and currently caddies for Patrick Cantlay.
“He’s given me tips and tricks here and there but it’s all about finding your niche and what works for your guy or works for you,” LaCava IV said of his dad’s influence.
“He’s definitely a big part in it.”
After the stunning win, Highsmith also took a moment to praise LaCava IV for ‘keeping it light’ on the course amid the pressure of moving through the field.
“He’s a great caddie. He’s really good at what he does, but he’s also just one of the boys, and we have a pretty good time out there, and he just keeps it light and everything,” he said.
“I think that was good today, obviously, with high pressure out there, being able to have him kind of keeping me relaxed and whatever.
“It feels like you’re just out there walking with one of your friends, and that part has been great, but then also staying focused on the process and whatnot, he’s been great. He’s been awesome.”
With victory at the Cognizant Classic, Highsmith is now heading to the Masters for the first time, as well as the PGA Championship.
He has also earned a place in the remaining five Signature Events, starting next week at Bay Hill and the Arnold Palmer Invitational.
“I went last year to the (Masters) just as a spectator because any chance that I can get to walk out there, I’m going to take advantage of that,” he revealed, having secured a spot this year.
“But to be playing in that tournament is going to be very special and, obviously, something you work towards your whole life.
“You never really know when you’re going to get that chance.”
