The 32-year-old American rebounded strongly from his only wobble as he converted his overnight lead into a career-elevating win by shooting a three-under 68 to win from final-group partner Doug Ghim (69).
Smotherman came into the week at No.79 in the FedEx Cup - the top 100 keep full PGA Tour cards for 2027 - and picked up some big rewards. He now has a two-year exemption, which includes the lucrative "Championship Series" when the new competitive model starts in 2028.
"We won on the PGA Tour. That's insane," he said.
Smotherman never trailed at the Black Desert Resort on Sunday, and he quickly built a three-shot cushion with a pair of tap-in birdies and a 35-foot birdie on the par-4 fifth.
But right when it looked as though he would eliminate all drama it changed quickly.
His approach to the par-4 13th came up short and plugged near the lip of a bunker. The best Smotherman could manage was to advance it to a flatter lie in the sand, he blasted out to 10 feet from there and missed the putt to make double bogey.
Suddenly, his lead was down to one shot over Trace Crowe, who in the group ahead made a 40-foot eagle putt on the reachable par-4 14th.
Smotherman responded with a tee shot with the perfect line and distance on the 14th, landing short of the green and rolling out to 6 feet. He missed the eagle putt, but restored his lead to two shots. On the next hole, his approach got a good kick and rolled out to 6 feet again.
He missed another short birdie putt, but converted from just inside 12 feet on the 16th, giving him a comfortable lead with two holes to play.
A bogey-birdie finish put him at 26-under 258, easily breaking the 72-hole record at the tournament only in its third year.
"It didn't have to be pretty," Smotherman said. "I got some nice bounces. Made some poor swings, but this game doesn't have to be perfect."
Along with the two-year exemption, Smotherman moves to No.51 in the FedEx Fall and is likely to stay among the top 60 to get into a pair of $US20 million signature events at Pebble Beach and Riviera next year.
Ghim, also seeking his first PGA Tour victory, three-putted from 30 feet on the 13th and missed a 6-foot par putt on the 15th. He birdied the final hole to claim outright second, moving him from 89th to 58th in the FedEx Cup.
Fellow Americans Crowe (66) and David Ford (64) tied for third.
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