The Champion Course at the PGA National Resort and Spa, witnessed something historic over the weekend. The 9th PGA Tour event of the season did not disappoint as the Cognizant Classic served as an excellent base for a lot of incredible achievements by professional golfers, culminating with a history-making feat by the eventual winner.
Joe Highsmith, fresh on the professional golfing circuit, won his first ever PGA Tour title, beating Jacob Bridgeman and JJ Spaun by two strokes. But a day before, this would have been something that was difficult to comprehend. Mainly because Highsmith made the cut on the number. At the end of day 2, he was 5 under par and barely in the cutline.
But what followed was an exemplary weekend of golf from the Pepperdine University grad. He carded 7 under pars for both days at a notoriously difficult Champion Course, to finish on 19 under par and become the first golfer on the tour to win the title after making the cut on the number in nine years.
As insider Dan Rapaport stated on X later, that is some ‘nasty work’ by Highsmith especially after Jake Knapp had started the event with a 12 under Day 1. For context, Highsmith’s score after day 3 was 12 under. The amount of focus and perseverance on display was exemplary from Highsmith, showing a maturity belying his age.
Joe Highsmith wins the Cognizant Classic after making the cut on the number. First guy to do that on the PGA Tour in 9 years. 64-64 weekend at PGA National is nasty work.
It’s also the first PGA Tour win for his caddie, Joe LaCava Jr., whose dad has won just a few. pic.twitter.com/swChKjkfFS
— Dan Rapaport (@Daniel_Rapaport) March 2, 2025
Social media, in particular, was very excited for Highsmith’s win, but not because they were celebrating it. Then why else were they hooked on the victory? Answer is short and simple – his unassuming name.
Fans go gaga over Joe Highsmith’s name
Funnily, fans on X were quite obsessed by the name of the winner of the Cognizant Classic. As one netizen put it ever so mildly, the names of the top three in the field at the PGA National Resort do not match their appearance. “Golfers whose name doesn’t match his look: Jacob Bridgeman, Joe Highsmith, J.J. Spaun.”
Both Highsmith and Bridgeman were ridiculed by fans for their very unassuming names. “Joe Highsmith and Jacob Bridgeman sound like the fakes names my bookie makes for his Venmo account.” One fan also jokingly quipped that generic names could be a trend that could seep through the years, stating, “This is just the beginning. We will see Karl Dandleton of Micronesia by 2030.”
In fact, Highsmith’s name does sound like he is this untold hero in the fairy tale, who comes from a far away land to help save a village from the clutches of evil. That is exactly what one fan felt like, “Joe Highsmith sounds like the name of someone who just moved to Dillon from the big city and is going to challenge Voodoo for the city title.”
The appearance of Highsmith on the course was also slightly different. He sported an unconventional hat, a look very synonymous with another PGA Tour pro Joel Dahmen. Since he has not been around the circuit for long, it is very easy for fans to confuse him with Dahmen, who is a bit popular because of his appearance on Netflix’s ‘Full Swing’. The fact that both of them have similar sounding first names, does not help. “How many of those kids getting Joe Highsmith’s autograph think they’re actually meeting Joel Dahmen?,” asked one fan on X incredulously
Whether his name fits the high standards of golfing fans or not, it does not matter. His game does. Highsmith will be relishing his first ever title on the PGA Tour circuit, and will be looking for more with every passing day. Here’s to the Cognizant Classic winner!
The post Despite Making History, PGA Tour Pro Mocked as Fans Ignore His Victory for Bizarre Reasons appeared first on EssentiallySports.
