After winning the Bank of Utah Championship earlier this month, golfer Austin Smotherman arranged for a taco truck to park outside his home to celebrate the first PGA Tour-sanctioned title of his career, as reported by Golfweek. However, just days later, he captured a second victory at the Butterfield Bermuda Championship, forcing him to celebrate both titles together.
The Breakthrough and Equipment Changes
Smotherman, 32, secured his second win in a three-hole playoff over Seamus Power during his 101st career start, coming just one week after his 100th career start triumph. By winning on both the Korn Ferry Tour and the PGA Tour in consecutive weeks, he became the first player to achieve the feat.
A key factor in his success has been improved putting, sparked by experimenting with a LAB Golf putter in May 2025 after a club member loaned him two models. After working with the company to customize a version, he won a Korn Ferry Tour event in Greenville, South Carolina, and later switched to a VZN.1i model ahead of the fall schedule.
Smotherman also credits his support team, including putting coach Josh Gregory, who joined him in late February before a tied-for-second finish at the Cognizant Classic. Gregory, who previously recruited Smotherman to Southern Methodist University, helped him approach greens with renewed confidence, alongside long-time coach Cameron McCormick, who has guided him since 2013.
Chasing Augusta National
Ranked No. 54 in the world, Smotherman is aiming for a spot in the top 50 to earn his first Masters invitation. Because his Bermuda victory was shortened to 54 holes due to high winds, it carried a reduced allocation of Official World Golf Ranking points, meaning he has not yet satisfied the tournament’s qualification criteria.
He still has upcoming events on his schedule, including the Austin Championship and the RSM Classic, to secure his spot. Smotherman previously visited Augusta National in 2016 as part of college teammate Bryson DeChambeau’s entourage and returned in 2019 to watch Tiger Woods win the Green Jacket, but he hopes to return as a competitor rather than a guest.
His recent success has earned him exempt status to the Championship Series through 2029, bringing much-needed stability to his career. Celebrations have included dinners in Utah and Las Vegas, a cocktail hour at Trinity Forest in Dallas, and a surprise serenade by a four-piece mariachi band at his gym while receiving physical therapy.
