Valimaki leads RSM Classic: Seeks his first PGA Tour title

Sami Valimaki leads the RSM Classic with an impressive performance

In an exciting day at the RSM Classic, Sami Valimaki from Finland took the lead with an outstanding performance that included four consecutive birdies. His impressive round allowed him to close the first round with a 65, placing him two strokes ahead of his competitors. The competition at Sea Island focuses on the fight to keep the PGA Tour card for next year, and for many players, this is their last chance. However, for Valimaki, the possibility of obtaining his first title on the PGA Tour is a palpable reality. Valimaki is at a total of 19 under par, with a two-stroke lead over Michael Thorbjornsen and Patrick Rodgers, both with a card of 68.

I really try to control the results, but it doesn’t work. I need to be the best version of myself that I can be, seek to build a high-quality golf game, and trust that that will give me the most opportunities throughout the season.

Patrick Rodgers

The group that follows closely, three strokes behind, includes Zac Blair (64), who needs a victory to have a chance to enter the top 100 of the FedEx Cup. Also in the competition are Andrew Novak (70) and Johnny Keefer (67), the Korn Ferry Tour Player of the Year, who has already secured his card for 2026, but now has a great opportunity to stay in the top 50 in the world and thus be able to participate in the Masters. Valimaki started his impressive streak with a shot that left him 12 feet from the hole on the 6th, achieving a birdie. On the 7th hole, par 5, he reached the green in two, then brought the ball to 18 inches on the 8th hole and 3 feet on the 9th.

I haven’t had any applause this week, so I knew that when I heard the applause, I should be pretty close.

Sami Valimaki

Valimaki has two second-place finishes in his professional career. He was runner-up at the Mexico Open last year and tied for second place at the World Technology Championship in Baja California. Regarding the fight to secure a spot in the top 100 to obtain the PGA Tour card, Séamus Power of Ireland (65) and Lee Hodges (66) are in a tie for seventh place, with good possibilities depending on the performance of the players ahead of them. Andrew Putnam, in 119th place, had a round of 69, which caused him to drop ten positions in the leaderboard.