Joe Highsmith Claims First PGA TOUR Victory, Lydia Ko Notches 23rd Career Title

By Zack R., Team Titleist Staff On Today Balls Tour Clubs

Jame

PGA TOUR | Cognizant Classic in The Palm Beaches

Titleist Brand Ambassador Joe Highsmith claimed his first PGA TOUR victory with confidence and control, pulling away from a jam-packed leaderboard Sunday with a bogey-free 7-under 64 to win by two shots.

  • Gaming an all-Titleist setup that included his NEW 2025 Pro V1 golf ball, GT3 driver and fairway, T-Series irons, Vokey Design SM10 wedges and Scotty Cameron putter, Highsmith posted back-to-back 64’s that featured a total of 13 birdies, an eagle and just one bogey over the final 36 holes.
  • His final birdie of the week came on the 175-yard par-3 17th, where he hit his approach to 20 feet, 11 inches and sank the putt to reach 19 under par – playing “The Bear Trap” (15-16-17) in 1 under to solidify the lead and eventual victory.
  • After making the cut on the number, he led the field with a total of +11.412 strokes gained over the weekend, including +4.936 strokes tee to green and +6.476 strokes with the putter.

What’s in the Bag? | Joe Highsmith

Golf Ball: NEW 2025 Titleist Pro V1
Driver: GT3 8.0° | HZRDUS Smoke Black RDX 60g 6.5
Fairway Metal: GT3 15.0° | HZRDUS Smoke Yellow 70 6.5TX 
Utility Iron: T200 2 | HZRDUS Smoke Black RDX 80HY 6.5 
Irons: T100 4-9 | Project X LS 6.5 
Wedges: Vokey Design SM10 46.10F, 50.12F, 54.14F, 58.04T | True Temper AMT Tour White S400 (46-54), S300 (58) 
Putter: Scotty Cameron 009M tour prototype

HIGHSMITH’S MOVE TO 2025 PRO V1

  • Joe Highsmith's first PGA TOUR victory came in his seventh start with the NEW 2025 Pro V1 golf ball, having made the move at the RSM Classic in his last start of 2024.
  • Both NEW Pro V1 and Pro V1x feature new faster high gradient cores, reformulated to maintain low long game spin, increase ball speed and add spin on shots into and around the greens.
  • As a player who likes to draw the golf ball, Joe found that the added spin with his irons compared to his prior generation Pro V1 translated to more control during the testing process, which was on full display down the stretch at PGA National. 
  • In his closing round of 64, Highsmith gained 1.984 strokes on the field with his approach play.
  • Arguably the most important of those approach shots were Highsmith’s shots into the daunting, water-guarded holes of ‘The Bear Trap,’ Nos. 15, 16 and 17.
  • A longtime T100 iron player, Highsmith flushed his shot on the 179-yard par-3 15th, his Pro V1 finishing inside 30 feet of the pin, and his approach from 185 yards on the par-4 16th finished 35 feet from the hole, setting up back-to-back two-putt pars.
  • On the 175-yard par-3 17th, Highsmith stuck his tee shot to 20 feet and converted the birdie, which brought him to his eventual winning number of 19 under.
  • In total, Highsmith was among the 107 competitors (74%) who teed up a Pro V1 or Pro V1x golf ball, more than eight times the nearest competitor (13/9%).

HIGHSMITH WINS IN 3rd START WITH NEW SCOTTY CAMERON 009M

  • An even more recent addition to Joe Highsmith's setup is his new-look Scotty Cameron 009M tour prototype putter, which he used to gain +6.476 strokes on the field over the weekend at PGA National.
  • This week marked Highsmith’s third start with the new gamer, which he received after making a visit to the Scotty Cameron Putter Studio in January ahead of the Farmers Insurance Open at nearby Torrey Pines.
  • Highsmith, who has used a Newport-style 009 since his junior golf days, was looking for a refreshed feel and look. 
  • During a session with Paul Vizanko, Scotty Cameron’s Director of Putter Fitting & Player Development, Highsmith was able to dial-in a new setup that featured a hand-ground sole to ensure it sat properly with the perfect weighting.
  • Highsmith even designed the custom-stamping on the new model.

  • “I was at the studio a few months ago and I was with Paul Vizanko there, and I told him I wanted a little bit of a change,” said Highsmith. “It's like the exact same putter but a cooler paint job and a different finish. I don't know what it is about this thing, but it feels way better than any of the others – because I have like four of the same shape putter, all with different finishes and metals or whatever. But this one has a special feeling to it, and I guess now it’s the one I’m definitely going to stick with.”
  • On Friday, Highsmith faced one of his biggest hurdles of the week: a 4-foot, 7-inch putt to make the cut on the number.
  • “Yeah, it was, like, the worst putt you'd ever want,” said Highsmith. “The greens were so baked out and bumpy and it was right to left kind of falling away. Just a super sketchy putt. I hate right-to-left putts because I have a tendency to wipe them or block them a little bit... I just tried to make sure at a minimum I committed to it. I didn't want to leave knowing that I had wished the last putt on Friday, so I committed to it and fortunately it went in.”

  • Fast-forward to the back nine on Sunday, and Highsmith was dialed in on the greens down the stretch, converting an 18-foot birdie try on 11, a 15-foot birdie try on 13 and a 20-foot birdie try on 17.
  • On 18, his 49-foot lag putt settled within three feet of the cup, setting up a tap-in par for his first career PGA TOUR title.
  • “I've putted really honestly pretty well for a majority of the year I feel like, and this weekend was ridiculous how many putts went in. Yeah, that [putter] is here to stay for sure.”

HIGHSMITH BRINGS GT3 DRIVER TO WINNER’S CIRCLE

  • Another club key to Highsmith's victory was his GT3 8.0° driver (HZRDUS Smoke Black RDX 60g 6.5, D•4 SureFit hosel setting, Neutral CG position).
  • Highsmith finished the week having gained 2.895 strokes on the field off the tee, ranking 11th.
  • Over the weekend, he hit 21 of 28 fairways (75%), and in both rounds, he averaged over 315 yards.
  • Titleist was the most played driver this week at PGA National, with 52 players (36%) gaming a Titleist driver, compared to 39 (27%) for the nearest competitor.
  • Highsmith also games a GT3 15.0° fairway (HZRDUS Smoke Yellow 70 6.5TX, B•4 SureFit hosel setting, H1 CG position) and a T200 2-iron (HZRDUS Smoke Black RDX 80HY 6.5).

AARON DILL ON HIGHSMITH’S VOKEY SM10 SETUP

  • Highsmith won with four Vokey Design SM10 wedges in the bag: 46.10F, 50.12F, 54.14F, 58.04T.
  • According to Vokey Tour Rep Aaron Dill, Highsmith’s setup is highly common among the world’s best players: higher-bounce forgiveness in the lower lofts and lower-bounce versatility in the lob wedge.
  • “Joe has a really nice balance of needed bounce and versatility.  His first three wedges (46.10F, 50.12F, 54.14F) are more forgiving wedges that perform well from the fairway, on long bunker shots, and on softer, grainy conditions. The 58.04T is all versatility. This is a sensitive club for most, and for him, he likes the look and confidence a low bounce lob wedge brings.”

LPGA | HSBC Women's World Championship

Lydia Ko added to her Hall-of-Fame resume, winning in just her second start since moving to the NEW 2025 Pro V1 golf ball.

  • Ko, who entered Sunday’s final round at Sentosa Golf Club with a one-shot lead, closed in 3-under 69, reaching 13 under to win by four.
  • The victory marked her 23rd career LPGA title.
  • Said Ko, after the final round: “I'm not trying to prove anything to anybody else, and who is to say that, you know, I had a great year [in 2024], and I can have an even better one. Obviously, we have a long season ahead. But this is my first time winning in the spring, Asia Swing. So it's definitely nice to win a new event for me. I'm just really excited for this season.”
  • For the week in Singapore, Ko made 19 birdies (T1) and was the only player to post three of the four rounds in the 60s.

KO’S MOVE TO 2025 PRO V1

  • Lydia Ko made the move to the NEW 2025 Pro V1 golf ball from her prior generation Pro V1x at the Founders Cup in February, her second start of 2025.
  • The change came after a session working with Jeff Beyers of Titleist Golf Ball R&D earlier that week.
  • “Lydia had been in contact during the offseason and during the Tournament of Champions looking for something with a little less spin than her current Pro V1x,” said Beyers. “The following Monday at the Founders Cup, we met on the range to test 2025 Pro V1 – which seemed to give her exactly what she was looking for. ‘25 Pro V1 lowered her spin on full iron shots through the bag by roughly 200-300 rpm, while still giving her enough height and stopping power into the greens. The lower spin of 25V also appeared to make a significant difference into the wind and in crosswinds.”
  • Ko played nine holes with 2025 Pro V1 on Monday afternoon, and the new model continued to check all boxes, seeing slightly less spin than her Pro V1x with tremendous stability through the wind.
  • ‘25 Pro V1 went straight into play on Thursday, and a few weeks later, she used it to claim her 23rd LPGA title.

KO ON PLAYING A TITLEIST GOLF BALL 

  • “I’ve used the Titleist ball for a really long time and I can speak from my experience that every time I’ve tried something new I’ve been able to see a difference, and I just love how it is the #1 golf ball. It’s not just an advertisement. It is something that I believe and something that I really trust. The golf ball is such a crucial part of the equipment standpoint and in the game.”

DP WORLD TOUR / SUNSHINE TOUR | Investec South African Open Championship

Titleist Brand Ambassador Dylan Naidoo broke through on the DP World Tour, earning his first career victory in his home country.

  • Naidoo, who plays an all-Titleist setup that includes his Pro V1x golf ball, GT2 driver and fairway, 620 CB irons, Vokey SM10 wedges and Scotty Cameron putter, opened the week with rounds of 70-61-71.
  • After Sunday’s final round was cancelled due to flooding, co-leaders Naidoo and Laurie Canter (NEW 2025 Pro V1) went to a playoff on the short par-4 18th.
  • Naidoo sealed the victory with a low, spinning chip, his Pro V1x settling in tight for a winning birdie 3.
  • "That type of shot is my bread and butter; a little low skipper,” said Naidoo after the round. “The boys who play practice rounds with me know that I do that all the time. I didn't have a lot of fear on the shot, it was actually a really nice shot for me to have in the moment.”
  • With the win, Naidoo earned an exemption into the 153rd Open Championship at Royal Portrush, which will be his first major championship appearance.

What’s in the Bag? | Dylan Naidoo

Golf Ball: Titleist Pro V1x
Driver: GT2 10.0°
Fairway Metal: GT2 16.5°
Hybrid: TSR2 21.0°
Irons: 620 CB 4-PW
Wedges: Vokey Design SM10 50.08F, 54.10S, WedgeWorks 60A
Putter: Scotty Cameron Fastback 2 tour prototype

KORN FERRY TOUR | 118 Visa Argentina Open

Justin Suh (Pro V1) won by five in Argentina, climbing the early-season KFT Points List and punching his ticket to this year’s 153rd Open Championship in the process.

  • Suh played flawless golf over the weekend, posting bogey-free rounds of 60 and 65 on Saturday and Sunday, respectively, to reach 23 under.
  • He only dropped three shots all week long, and the 27-year-old made 22 birdies and two eagles over four rounds at the Jockey Club in Buenos Aires.
  • “Overall I played pretty conservatively,” said Suh. “Even though I made a lot of birdies, I just gave myself chances on kind of the holes that presented themselves. So I think you have to be very precise with your irons and the numbers and with the wind and everything going on, that was definitely a tough task.”
  • Suh is projected to rise to No. 2 in the Korn Ferry Tour Points List, with the top 20 finishers earning PGA TOUR cards by season’s end.

ASIAN TOUR / PGA TOUR OF AUSTRALASIA |104th New Zealand Open

Titleist Brand Ambassador Ryan Peake rolled in a 10-foot par putt on the last to post 23 under and win the biggest title of his career to date.

  • Peake, whose all-Titleist setup includes his NEW 2025 Pro V1x golf ball, GT3 driver and GT2 fairway, 620 MB irons, Vokey SM10 wedges and Scotty Cameron GOLO putter, closed in 5-under 66, good for a one-shot margin of victory. He played his final three rounds without dropping a single shot.
  • Like Naidoo and Suh, Peake also earned a spot in the field at the 153rd Open Championship this summer with his win.

What’s in the Bag? | Ryan Peake

Golf Ball: NEW 2025 Titleist Pro V1x
Driver: NEW GT3 9.0°
Fairway Metal: NEW GT2 15.0°
Irons: T200 3 and 620 MB 4-9
Wedges: Vokey Design SM10 46.10F, 50.08F, 56.08M, 60.04T
Putter: Scotty Cameron GOLO 6.2

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