Cognizant Classic highlights: Joe Highsmith has historic weekend to earn first PGA Tour win
What a way to get you first PGA Tour win.
Joe Highsmith made the cut at the 2025 Cognizant Classic in the Palm Beaches on the number. He ended the week on top of the leaderboard. Highsmith recorded the lowest weekend score in Cognizant Classic history (14-under 128) to earn the win at PGA National. He's also the 18th lefty to win on the PGA Tour.
Here's a look at the highlights and best moments from the final round of the Cognizant Classic.
Joe Highsmith in the clubhouse at 19 under
Joe Highsmith is closing in on his first PGA Tour victory. The closest golfer to him is Ben Griffin, who is three back with two to play. Barring a miracle, Highsmith is going to win. He shot 64 both weekend days, the lowest 36-hole finish in the history of the tournament.
Joe Highsmith has a clear advantage
Highsmith gets through the Bear Trap without a scratch. He birdied the par-3 17th, and now he has a two-shot lead heading to the 18th. The two players within two shots are in the clubhouse, and he's four strokes ahead of anyone else on the course. Barring a major collapse, Highsmith is likely to become the 18th lefty to win on the PGA Tour.
Joe Highsmith drills it for birdie and a two-shot lead! 🔥
📺 NBC & Peacock | @The_Cognizant pic.twitter.com/a6bRtjhrbq— Golf Channel (@GolfChannel) March 2, 2025
Rare air if Joe Highsmith converts
It would be a crazy win if Highsmith is able to hold on. As Justin Ray points out, it almost never happens from where he was starting the third round.
Joe Highsmith made the cut on the number this week.
He's trying to become the first player to win a PGA Tour event after making the cut on the number in more than 9 years. Last was Brandt Snedeker at the 2016 Farmers.— Justin Ray (@JustinRayGolf) March 2, 2025
Disaster for Jake Knapp
Oh no, Jake Knapp. His second shot on 11 comes up short, and he tries to play it from the water. It takes him two shots to get it out of the water, but it was still beneath the hazard line. His fifth shot finally found the green, but he couldn't pour in the putt. Triple bogey 7, and he's three back of Joe Highsmith now.
Trouble in the mud for Jake Knapp on 11.
📺 NBC & Peacock | @The_Cognizant pic.twitter.com/llKRwXEHs0— Golf Channel (@GolfChannel) March 2, 2025
Jake Knapp retakes lead
After hitting his second shot into the stands, Knapp takes advantage of a drop and converts for birdie on the par 5. He's back into the solo lead at 18 under.
Joe Highsmith ties lead
This tournament is for the taking. Joe Highsmith joined Bridgeman and Knapp at 17 under after his birdie at No. 11. Highsmith has birdied three straight holes
Jacob Bridgeman takes clubhouse lead
The mark has been set. Bridgeman is done for the day, and he has tied Jake Knapp at 17 under with the latter playing the ninth hole. Time to sit around and wait, though it probably won't be enough.
Jordan Spieth is two back
Spieth is feeling it. Four birdies in five holes, and he's two shots back. Could the 13-time winner post a number?
Russell Henley ties lead
Russell Henley is in the mix, getting only the third birdie of the day on the par-3 seventh and tying Knapp at 17 under.
Jacob Bridgeman making push for lead
Sitting at 6 under thru 16 and one shot behind Knapp, Jacob Bridgeman is trying to post a number. He likely needs a pair of birdies or better to finish, but his strong finish will help stuff his pocket more.
Jake Knapp gets his first birdie
In an attempt to go wire-to-wire, Knapp birdies the par-5 third after reaching the green in two shots. He two putts from the front side of the green, and he reaches 17 under and retakes the solo lead by one over Michael Kim.
Doug Ghim ties lead
With two birdies in his first three holes, Doug Ghim has tied Jake Knapp at 16 under on top of the leaderboard. There are 17 players within three shots of the lead.
Amateur's nightmare
On the par-4 second hole, Jake Knapp teed it up about as close as you can to a tee marker. Don't recommend trying this at home.
Got some anxiety just watching Jake Knapp this close to the tee marker. pic.twitter.com/fnfvpIWZMo
— Jason Sobel (@JasonSobelGolf) March 2, 2025
Leaders underway at PGA National
No harm, no foul for the leaders to kick off the final round. Jake Knapp and Michael Kim both made comfy pars and are underway in the final round.
Bear Trap bites van Rooyen
After four consecutive birdies on Nos. 12-15, the final two holes of the Bear Trap got EVR. He makes consecutive bogeys and drops two back of the leaders before they tee off, which means even with an eagle, it's likely a number he posts won't matter. Luke Clanton, however, is one back with eight holes to play.
Erik van Rooyen ties lead
The South African has a chance to post a number. He's 8 under for his round and has birdied four straight holes on the back nine. Van Rooyen is 8 under thru 15 on Sunday and has tied Knapp at 16 under.
Luke Clanton moves into top 5
Luke Clanton is making early moves. He is 4 under thru 8 holes Sunday, and he's T-3 and two shots back of the leaders. With his PGA Tour card in the bag, could he pull off a come-from-behind victory?
Cognizant Classic 2025 final-round tee times
First tee
8:00 a.m. — Davis Riley, Alejandro Tosti
8:10 a.m. — Francesco Molinari, Christiaan Bezuidenhout
8:20 a.m. — Sami Valimaki, Jhonattan Vegas
8:30 a.m. — Tom Hoge, Denny McCarthy
8:40 a.m. — Taylor Moore, Matthew Riedel
8:50 a.m. — Sam Ryder, Michael Thorbjornsen
9:00 a.m. — Ben Polland, Matt McCarty
9: 10 a.m. — Greyson Sigg, Antoine Rozner
9:20 a.m. — Chris Kirk, Niklas Norgaard
9:35 a.m. — Keith Mitchell, Isaiah Salinda
9:45 a.m. — Charley Hoffman, Erik van Rooyen
9:55 a.m. — Bud Cauley, Jackson Suber
10:05 a.m. — Max Greyserman, Matti Schmid
10:15 a.m. — Beau Hossler, Shane Lowry
10:25 a.m. — Matt Kuchar, Min Woo Lee
10:35 a.m. — Patrick Fishburn, Quade Cummins
10:50 a.m. — Kris Ventura, Ricky Castillo
11:00 a.m. — Luke Clanton, Jesper Svensson
11:10 a.m. — Chan Kim, Alex Smalley
11:20 a.m. — Rico Hoey, Karl Vilips
11:30 a.m. — Vince Whaley, Jacob Bridgeman
11:40 a.m. — Billy Horschel, Nicolai Hojgaard
11:50 a.m. — Zach Johnson, Andrew Putnam
12:05 p.m. — Brian Harman, Brice Garnett
12:15 p.m. — Joel Dahmen, Ryan Gerard
12:25 p.m. — Brian Campbell, Jordan Spieth
12:35 p.m. — Victor Perez, Patrick Rodgers
12:45 p.m. — Matthieu Pavon, Rikuya Hoshino
12:55 p.m. — J.J. Spaun, Daniel Berger
1:10 p.m. — Sepp Straka, Max McGreevy
1:20 p.m. — Taylor Montgomery, Joe Highsmith
1:30 p.m. — Rickie Fowler, Doug Ghim
1:40 p.m. — Russell Henley, Ben Griffin
1:50 p.m. — Jake Knapp, Michael Kim
How to watch the Cognizant Classic final round
Sunday, March 2
6:45 a.m.-6 p.m. ET, ESPN+
1-3 p.m. ET, Golf Channel
1-6 p.m. ET, NBC Sports app
1-6 p.m. ET, SiriusXM PGA Tour radio
3-6 p.m. ET, NBC
Final round weather forecast at the Cognizant Classic
Sunday's weather in Florida is going to to be perfect, but winds at 10-15 are as strong as they've been all week.
Sunday weather forecast for the Cognizant Classic in The Palm Beaches pic.twitter.com/gW7DnU2q6w
— PGA TOUR Communications (@PGATOURComms) March 2, 2025
Cognizant Classic Sunday hole locations
Final-round hole locations for the Cognizant Classic in The Palm Beaches pic.twitter.com/C2Po46IduU
— PGA TOUR Communications (@PGATOURComms) March 2, 2025
This article originally appeared on Golfweek: Cognizant Classic highlights: Final-round scores, best moments