Sami Valimaki wrapped up the PGA Tour season Sunday by becoming the first player from Finland to win a tour event at the RSM Classic in St. Simons Island, Ga.
The solo third-round leader, Valimaki birdied the par-5 15th hole at Sea Island Golf Club’s Seaside Course to break a tie with Max McGreevy, who went out early and posted a 7-under 63 to get to 22-under 260.
Valimaki, 27, proceeded to par his way home and sign for a 66, a four-round score of 23-under 259.
“It has been a long road, of course,” said Valimaki, who missed a number of cuts over the summer but tied for second two weeks ago at the World Wide Technology Championship.
“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, so it feels amazing.”
Just as crucial as Valimaki’s go-ahead birdie at No. 15 was his par save at the very next hole. In the greenside rough after two shots, he used his putter from 50 feet away to get onto the green and leave himself 19 feet for par. The putt moved slightly left to right and dropped center-cup.
“Chipping hasn’t been my kind of favorite shot and I haven’t used this week much about it,” Valimaki said. “I just felt like today only comfortable was with my putter, so I thought, ‘OK, let’s give it a go outside the green and just give me the chance to make a 4.'”
Not only did the win secure Valimaki a two-year exemption on tour, it catapulted him 23 spots to No. 51 in the FedEx Cup Fall points standings. Nos. 51-60 in points qualify for the first two big-money signature events of 2026.
That was also reason to smile for McGreevy, whose Sunday surge into second place was projected to push him to No. 60 in the standings.
“I maybe projected to get in the top 60. I didn’t even think a second place would get in the top 60. Really was just kind of trying to win,” McGreevy said. “I knew my game was feeling really, really good. Putter’s just been struggling this year in general. Had a couple little minor tweaks I feel like that just made it feel really good out here, and these greens are so good. Luckily, kind of got a couple to roll in early this week and it just kind of snowballed into a good week.”
Ricky Castillo did McGreevy one better by firing a final-round 62, rocketing him to third at 21 under. However, he was projected to finish the points race No. 102, just outside the top 100 who are guaranteed to retain full tour status for next season.
Colombia’s Nico Echavarria fired a 65 to get to 19 under for the week, and his tie for fourth with Lee Hodges (66) and South Korean Si woo Kim (66) boosted Echavarria from 62nd to 55th in points, entering him into those first two signature events.
“I’m very happy,” Echavarria said. “To be honest, I didn’t have my best this week and having a result like that with your B-game, I was kind of uncomfortable with the irons all week. The putter obviously got hot. So I’m very proud of the way I battled.”
–Field Level Media
