In an emotional day at Sea Island, Sami Valimaki made history by becoming the first Finnish golfer to win a PGA Tour tournament. The event, the RSM Classic, which marked the end of the season, saw the hopes of several players fluctuate drastically in the last hour.
Valimaki, who had previously achieved two runner-up finishes in the last two seasons, demonstrated his short game prowess, using his putter effectively. His performance on the final holes was notable, even when the wind changed direction, adding an extra element of difficulty.
Drama in the Classification
The competition to secure a spot among the top 100 in the FedEx Cup standings was intense, as the top 100 finishers earn full cards for the PGA Tour in the 2026 season, where the fields will be smaller.
Ricky Castillo had an impressive first round, but Max McGreevy, with a birdie on the last hole, relegated him to the 102nd position by a minimal margin of points.
Lee Hodges also suffered a setback, missing the opportunity to enter the top 100 by a narrow margin.
Valimaki, with his victory, secured a two-year exemption on the PGA Tour and his participation in the first two $20 million events of the 2026 season, finishing in 51st place in the FedEx Cup.
“It’s been a long road, of course. I feel like it’s been a really tough year, even when I played some decent golf, and then to keep pushing and find some good moments in the last tournaments, it’s amazing,” Valimaki said.
McGreevy, with his place secured, rose to 60th place, also qualifying for next year’s featured events.
Nico Echavarria, with a round of 65, tied for fourth place and secured his spot for the featured events on the west coast.
Sam Stevens scored a hole-in-one on the third hole, finishing with a 63 and tying for seventh place.
The excitement and uncertainty continue in the world of golf, with the final classification for the Masters still to be defined.
