Sami Valimaki captured a first PGA TOUR title of his career with a tight one-shot victory at the season finale RSM Classic.
The 27-year-old from Finland, who’d previously recorded two runner-up finishes in the past two seasons, came into the final day at Sea Island with a two-shot advantage and kept his place at the top of the leaderboard throughout the day. America’s Max McGreevy, who was Valimaki’s closest challenger, applied some pressure right at the end with a birdie at the 18th but the Finn held his nerve to crucially hole an 18-foot putt to card a four-under 66, finish on 23 under and secure his first career triumph on the circuit.
It is a milestone victory for Valimaki as he becomes the first ever player from Finland to win on the PGA TOUR and the 17th first-time winner of the season. It also secures him a place at the first two signature events of the 2026 season and a two-year exemption after qualifying in 51st in the FedExCup Fall Standings.
“It feels great, it was a battle but luckily I finished on top,” Valimaki said following his win.
“The putt on 16 was huge. I heard the noise on 18 when Max made birdie, so I knew I had to make that putt and grind it out with two pars. The celebrations will be good—we’ve changed our flights to tomorrow, so I think it’s going to be great. I hope a lot of people back home were watching, and I want to thank them for their support.”
Runner-up McGreevy also sealed qualification to the first two signature events of next season after jumping from 89th to 60th in the rankings.
“I didn’t even think a second place would get in the top 60,” said McGreevy following the final round. “I haven’t given myself that belief on the PGA TOUR, I feel like, in my three full seasons out here. I don’t know what clicked this last month, but I feel like that belief really, really did change in my mind. I think I can play with everybody out here. My really good golf is really good. I get streaky and I’ve got to get better at that, but no, I’m going to believe in everything that I do.”
After the conclusion of the RSM Classic, the top 100 in the rankings will have retained their full PGA TOUR cards for the 2026 season. American Ricky Castillo looked to be someone who was set to sneak in after hitting a sensational 62 in the final round but his third-place finish proved insufficient as he ended the season in 102nd.
What is the next event?
The 2026 season of the PGA TOUR tees off with the Sony Open in Hawaii taking place between 25-18 January at Waialae Country Club in Hawaii.