Sami Valimaki made history for Finland by becoming the first winner of a PGA Tour tournament. The golfer finished the RSM Classic with a round of 66 strokes, four under par, securing the victory by one stroke in an event full of emotions. Valimaki, who had previously achieved two runner-up finishes in the last two seasons, demonstrated his skill using his putter from outside the green on the 16th hole, and then holed an 18-foot putt. He remained calm in the final holes, despite the changes in wind direction.
Drama in the FedEx Cup Rankings
The tournament was crucial, as the top 100 finishers in the FedEx Cup, which was reduced from 125 players in previous years, earn full cards for the PGA Tour in the 2026 season, where the fields will be smaller. Ricky Castillo, with an impressive opening round of 28 strokes in the first nine holes, finished with a 62. Initially, it seemed that this result would position him within the top 100, from 135th place. However, Max McGreevy, with a 30-foot birdie on the last hole, achieved a 63, climbing to second place. This performance pushed Castillo to 102nd place, by less than 10 points. Immediately after McGreevy’s putt, Lee Hodges had a 10-foot birdie attempt that didn’t materialize, missing the opportunity to enter the top 100. With a round of 66, Hodges was in 101st place in the FedEx Cup, only two points away.Upon completion of the RSM Classic, the players ranked between 95th and 100th did not experience any changes.
Valimaki, with two victories on the European Tour and runner-up two weeks ago in Mexico, now secures a two-year exemption on the PGA Tour and his participation in the first two $20 million events of 2026, by finishing in 51st place in the FedEx Cup.McGreevy, with his card already secured, moved up to 60th place, also qualifying for next year’s featured events. This result displaced Jordan Spieth, who did not participate in the fall season, from 60th place, meaning Spieth will need sponsor exemptions for Pebble Beach and Riviera. McGreevy played freely, without the pressure of securing his card.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
Nico Echavarria shot a 65, tying for fourth place and securing his spot among the 51-60 positions for the featured events on the West Coast. Sam Stevens made a hole-in-one on the third hole with a 9-iron, shooting a 63 and tying for seventh place. He was already qualified for all the signature events. His focus, ranked 48th in the world, was to stay in the top 50 to secure his place in the Masters. The situation remains uncertain, as it does for Johnny Keefer, the Korn Ferry Tour Player of the Year, who arrived at the tournament in 50th place. Both were in that tie for seventh place and are expected to move up a few spots, with tournaments still to be played in Australia and South Africa.I’ve never felt so nervous. I felt like I was playing to win. Fortunately, my best golf came out at the end of the year.
Max McGreevy
