In a day full of emotions and unexpected twists, Sami Valimaki was crowned as the first Finnish winner in the history of the PGA Tour, finishing the RSM Classic with an impressive round of 66 strokes (-4).The event, which served as the season finale, kept fans on the edge of their seats in Sea Island, with dramatic changes in positions as the day progressed.
Valimaki Makes History
Valimaki, who had previously achieved two runner-up finishes in the last two seasons, demonstrated his prowess with the putter, highlighting a crucial shot from off the green on the 16th hole and an 18-foot putt. Despite the changes in wind direction, he maintained calm and precision in the final holes, securing the victory by one stroke.Drama in the FedEx Cup Ranking
The competition to secure a place among the top 100 in the FedEx Cup ranking, which grants full PGA Tour cards in 2026, added an extra level of tension to the tournament.Ricky Castillo, with an outstanding performance in the first half of the course, seemed on track to secure his place among the top 100. However, Max McGreevy, with a birdie on the last hole, relegated him to the 102nd position by a narrow margin of points.Lee Hodges, for his part, was close to entering the top 100, but a missed putt on the last hole prevented him from reaching his goal, finishing in 101st position.Upon completion of the tournament, the players ranked between 95th and 100th maintained their initial positions.
Valimaki, with this victory, secures a two-year exemption on the PGA Tour and his participation in the first two signature events of 2026, finishing in 51st place in the FedEx Cup.McGreevy, by securing his card, climbed to 60th place, guaranteeing his participation in the highlights of next year.This position relegated Jordan Spieth, who did not participate in the tournament, outside the top 60, meaning he will need exemptions to compete at Pebble Beach and Riviera.Nico Echavarria, with a round of 65 strokes, tied for fourth place and secured a spot in the featured events on the west coast.Sam Stevens achieved a hole-in-one on the third hole, finishing with a round of 63 strokes and tying for seventh place.The definition of the positions for the Masters, as well as for the Korn Ferry Tour Player of the Year, Johnny Keefer, remained uncertain, with tournaments still to be played in Australia and South Africa.It’s been a long road, of course. I feel like it’s been a really tough year, even when I played decent golf, and then to keep pushing and find some good moments in the last tournaments, it’s incredible!
Sami Valimaki
