[Winners Club] Highsmith's Putter Change Hits the Mark

Success After 33 Attempts at the Cognizant Classic
Showcasing a Comeback After Barely Making the Cut
Switched to a Painted and Stamped Scotty Cameron
Clinched Victory with a 6-Meter Birdie on the 17th in the Final Round

It was a masterstroke.

Jo Highsmith is smiling brightly while holding the trophy right after winning the Cognizant Classic. Palm Beach Gardens=AP·Yonhap News

Second-year unknown player Joe Highsmith (USA) made a successful putter change. On the 2nd (local time), he achieved his first career victory at the PGA Tour Cognizant Classic (total prize money $9.2 million) held at PGA National Resort Champions Course (par 71) in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida. Before this tournament, he had participated in 33 events and missed the cut more than half the time, 18 times, but he completed a dramatic turnaround.

Highsmith almost missed the cut at the Cognizant Classic as well. After barely making the cut in last place, he shot 7 under par in the third round to move up to the leading group, and in the final fourth round, he enjoyed the thrill of victory with a perfect performance, recording 7 birdies without a single bogey. He also became one of the rare players to win after making the cut in last place. It was the first time in nine years since Brant Snedeker (USA) won the Farmers Insurance Open in 2016.

This is the Scotty Cameron putter used by Jo Haismith at the Cognizant Classic. Photo by Scotty Cameron

Highsmith recently changed his putter. He equipped a new putter ahead of last month's WM Phoenix Open. It is a Scotty Cameron 009M Tour Prototype putter. It is a customized painted and stamped product. He virtually secured the victory by sinking about a 6-meter birdie putt on the 17th hole (par 3) on the final day. Highsmith smiled brightly, saying, "It felt much better than any other putter. I think I will continue to use this putter that gave me a special feeling."

Driver: Titleist GT3 (8 degrees)

Fairway Wood: Titleist GT3 (15 degrees)

Irons: Titleist T200 (#2), Titleist T100 (#4-9)

Wedges: Titleist Vokey Design SM10 (46, 50, 54, 58 degrees)

Putter: Scotty Cameron 009M Tour Prototype

Ball: 2025 Titleist Pro V1 *Source=PGA Tour