Valimaki Makes History: First PGA Tour Title for Finland at RSM Classic

In an exciting season finale, Sami Valimaki was crowned the first Finnish winner in PGA Tour history, taking the victory at the RSM Classic. The competition, full of unexpected twists, kept fans on the edge of their seats until the last moment.

Valimaki Makes History

Valimaki, who had previously achieved two runner-up finishes in the last two seasons, demonstrated his putting prowess, achieving a crucial shot from off the green on the 16th hole and an 18-foot putt. Despite the changes in wind direction, he remained calm in the final holes, securing his triumph.

Drama in the FedEx Cup Rankings

The competition to secure a spot among the top 100 in the FedEx Cup standings, which grants full PGA Tour cards for the 2026 season, added an extra layer of excitement. Ricky Castillo, with an impressive opening round, seemed to be on his way to securing his place, but the competition was fierce. It was a long road, of course. I feel like it was a really tough year, even when I played decent golf, and then to keep pushing and finding some good moments in the last tournaments, it feels incredible. Max McGreevy, with a birdie on the last hole, climbed positions, relegating Castillo to 102nd place by a narrow margin. Lee Hodges, for his part, was close to entering the top 100, but a failed birdie attempt left him in 101st place.

Upon completion of the RSM Classic, players ranked between 95th and 100th maintained their initial positions.

Valimaki, with two previous victories on the European circuit and a recent runner-up finish in Mexico, secured his place on the PGA Tour for two years and his participation in the first two featured events of 2026 by finishing in 51st place in the FedEx Cup.

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McGreevy, already with his card secured, rose to 60th place, guaranteeing his participation in the highlighted events of next year. This result displaced Jordan Spieth, who did not participate in this tournament, from the 60th position, forcing him to seek exemptions for the Pebble Beach and Riviera tournaments. McGreevy, without the pressure of securing his card, played with freedom.

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

Nico Echavarria, with a round of 65, tied for fourth place and secured a spot in the West Coast events. Sam Stevens achieved a hole-in-one on the third hole and finished with 63 strokes, tying for seventh place. Stevens had already secured his participation in the featured events. The competition to stay in the top 50 of the world ranking, with the aim of securing a place in the Masters, was intense. The definition of the final positions remained uncertain, with pending tournaments in Australia and South Africa that could influence the classification.