Sami Valimaki wins RSM Classic, first Finnish winner on the PGA Tour

ST. SIMONS ISLAND, Ga. — Growing up in Nokia, Finland, Sami Valimaki dreamed of making it to the National Hockey League, not the PGA Tour. It wasn’t such a far-fetched goal given that his cousin, Juuso Valimaki, made it to the NHL as a defenseman, playing this season for the Utah Mammoth. But Sami's original dream took a detour for a very good reason.

“They didn't pick me in the national team,” Sami said. “They picked me on the golf national team, so I said 'OK, let's give it a go for this one,' and this road has been working out (pretty) well.” 

The 27-year-old Valimaki, who was 5 when his father got him a cut-down club and introduced him to the game at Nokia River Golf, became the first native of Finland to win on the PGA Tour thanks to a final-round 4-under 66 at Sea Island Resort’s Seaside Course on Sunday. It was good enough for a 72-hole total of 23-under par 259 and one stroke better than Max McGreevy, who closed in 63.

“I just wanted to show the people it's possible from there,” Valimaki said.

After turning pro in 2018, Valimaki set a goal of winning on the DP World Tour and did so in his fifth tournament on the European circuit. 

“After that I feel like that was it,” he said.

He found new motivation when the PGA Tour announced that the top 10 on the DP World Tour would earn cards on the PGA Tour as part of the alliance of the two men’s professional circuits, and he earned his card for last season. He finished second at the 2024 Mexico Open but skipped last year’s RSM Classic due to the birth of his first child and had to sweat out keeping his card for this season.

Valimaki became the fifth straight first-time winner at the RSM Classic, and he moved to No. 51 in the FedEx Cup Fall standings to finish in the Aon Next 10 and clinch a berth in the first two signature events of 2026. He surged into contention with a 62 on Friday at the Seaside Course and grabbed the 54-hole lead with a 65. On a picture-perfect day on the Golden Isles, Valimaki carded five birdies and one bogey. He briefly lost his lead to Ricky Castillo, who shot 62 and finished third, but regained it with a short birdie putt at No. 10, two-putted for birdie at the par-5 15th hole and then holed a critical 19-foot par putt at No. 16 to preserve his lead. It came after he used his putter from off the green and the par saver was as good as any slap shot he ever hit.

“At least I knew I'm going to get it on the green if I use the putter and just give me the chance because that was the only thing I was comfortable with today, when I had my (Odyssey) Two-Ball in my hand," he said. In recognition of his putting prowess – he ranked sixth in Strokes Gained: putting for the week – he kissed the face of his putter on the 18^th green in celebration. 

“It has been long road, of course,” said Valimaki. “I feel like kind of how the last year taught me, I feel like it's a really tough year even when I kind of played decent golf, and then to keep pushing and find some good grooves in the last few tournaments, it feels amazing.”