In a day full of emotions and unexpected changes in Sea Island, Sami Valimaki made history by becoming the first Finnish golfer to win a PGA Tour tournament. With a final round of 4 under par, he signed a card of 66 strokes, securing the victory in the RSM Classic by one stroke difference. Valimaki, who had already brushed with glory on two occasions in the last seasons, demonstrated his composure in the final holes, even when the wind changed direction suddenly. His play with the putter, especially from outside the green on the 16th hole, and an 18-foot putt on the same hole, were key to his triumph.
Drama for a spot in the Top 100
The tournament was also marked by the fight to enter the Top 100 of the FedEx Cup ranking, which guarantees players a full card for the 2026 season, where the fields will be smaller. Ricky Castillo, with an impressive first round of 28 strokes and a total of 62, seemed to have secured his place, climbing from 135th to the Top 100. However, Max McGreevy, with a birdie on the last hole, snatched the place from him with a 30-foot putt, relegating him to 102nd place by a minimal point difference. Lee Hodges, for his part, was close to entering the Top 100, but a 10-foot birdie attempt that didn’t go in left him in 101st place, just two points away.Upon completion of the RSM Classic, the players ranked between 95th and 100th maintained their initial positions.
McGreevy, who already had his card secured, rose to 60th place and also qualified for the important events that will kick off next year. His performance displaced Jordan Spieth from the 60th position, meaning Spieth will need invitations for the Pebble Beach and Riviera tournaments. Nico Echavarria, with a round of 65, tied for fourth place and secured a spot among the 51 and 60 for the important events on the West Coast. Sam Stevens achieved a hole-in-one on the third hole and finished with a round of 63, tying for seventh place. He was already qualified for all major events.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
