Concluding a week in which much more than a trophy was being contended for, Sami Valimaki successfully overcame anxieties and strain to accomplish a career milestone at the 2025 RSM Classic. The 27-year-old Finn managed to hold off a substantial group of competitors on Sunday in Sea Island, Georgia, to achieve victory for the first time in his PGA Tour career at 23 under, a single stroke ahead of Max McGreevy.
Valimaki stands as the premier Finnish golfer to secure a win on the PGA Tour and marks the 17th newcomer to win this season, a figure that ranks as the second-highest in a single season since 1983. He additionally follows the paths of Ludvig Åberg and Maverick McNealy as the fifth consecutive first-time victor to surface at the RSM Classic.
Already ensured of full-time playing benefits in 2026 given his position at No. 74 in the FedEx Cup standings as he began the PGA Tour season’s concluding event, Valimaki recognized that there was remaining effort required. With opportunities into significant competitions and major championships at stake, the powerful right-hander obtained entry into several prominent events to initiate the upcoming year’s schedule.
As a result of his victory, Valimaki ascended to No. 51 in the FedEx Cup standings. His three most recent performances of the year encompass: a T2 placement at the World Wide Technology Championship, T18 at the Bermuda Championship, and now a triumph at the RSM Classic. The advancement within the Aon Next 10 — positions 51-60 in the standings — indicates that he will participate in the initial pair of signature events of 2026, along with the PGA Championship and RBC Heritage.
Holding the initial 54-hole advantage of his professional journey, Valimaki appeared composed from the commencement of the concluding round. Positioned two strokes ahead of fellow contenders Michael Thorbjornsen and Patrick Rodgers, the leader from the prior day promptly asserted his dominance on Sunday with birdies on the 2nd and 4th holes.
Challenges ultimately did not arise from those particular players, but instead from a duo competing in an earlier grouping. Ricky Castillo recorded a pair of birdies in his initial quartet of holes before noting five successive birdies on his scorecard to finalize the front nine. The former standout from Florida Gators matched the front-nine scoring benchmark, finishing in 28 strokes and unexpectedly possessing an opportunity to salvage his season with nine remaining holes. Castillo conceded a stroke on the 12th hole but compensated with birdies on the 15th and 16th holes to establish the initial clubhouse advantage at 21 under.
“I haven’t really encountered numerous successful final rounds this year, therefore it was certainly satisfying to have my most commendable round of the year transpire on the concluding round of the final tournament,” Castillo stated. “Remarkable, indeed. However, I am genuinely pleased to achieve a favorable score and present myself with an opportunity to retain my card.”
“Truthfully, my aspiration was to secure victory in the golf tournament. In my perspective, approaching the 18th, I aimed to provide myself with a chance to triumph in the golf tournament. Should I win this tournament, yes, I will retain my Tour card, but irrespective of the outcome, I was simply endeavoring to offer myself the most optimal chance. That embodies our purpose here: to endeavor to win tournaments. We are not aiming for second place; our collective objective is to win.”
Castillo’s score of 62 was adequate to momentarily insert his name within the qualifying positions as he departed the final hole, but it would not ultimately remain there as McGreevy successfully executed a 30-foot birdie putt on the 18th green to displace it beyond the top 100. McGreevy’s birdie shifted Castillo’s name to third on the leaderboard, affording him the clubhouse lead at 22 under as a consequence of three birdies in his concluding quintet of holes and a concluding-round score of 63.
However, he was not the sole player to encounter disappointment on the final hole. McGreevy’s performance was sufficient for him to narrowly secure a position within the Aon Next 10 as well, thereby pushing Jordan Spieth beyond the qualifying threshold to commence the year. In the meantime, McGreevy’s playing companion, Lee Hodges, possessed his destiny within his own hands as he approached the last hole as well.
Hodges persistently progressed and reached the concluding hole of his season requiring a birdie to retain his PGA Tour card. He split the fairway, located the green in regulation, and confronted a 10-foot birdie attempt that ultimately deviated to the lower side and lacked any prospect of success.
Hodges concluded the season at No. 101 in the FedEx Cup standings, while Castillo was situated one position worse at No. 102 after commencing the week significantly off the pace at 135th in the season-long competition. With Hodges and Castillo unable to marginally qualify, Takumi Kanaya, who arrived at Sea Island at No. 99, maintained the identical position despite failing to make the cut. Karl Vilips, who already possessed an exemption due to his Puerto Rico Open victory, was the individual to conclude at the pivotal qualifying number.
“I am regretful to learn that I was the individual who instigated that,” McGreevy acknowledged. “I am participating alongside Lee, who is among my close acquaintances. We jointly commenced our journey on the PGA Tour in ’21, and I am advocating for him to execute that putt as vehemently as I was for myself to execute that putt.
“There are minor triumphs and defeats. Whether it’s a setback to Ricky or Lee or an equivalent circumstance, they both nonetheless performed exceptionally well, afforded themselves that opportunity, and that is the sole aspect they can depend on – to present themselves with an opportunity. And they accomplished that. Ideally, both of those individuals, Ricky and Lee, can manage their affairs either at Q-School or in the upcoming year with particular starts, and, indeed, perform commendable golf.”
With those players vying for their livelihoods away from the golf course, Valimaki commanded the center stage and executed his maneuver on the par-5 15th. Locating the putting surface in a pair of strokes due to an exquisite mini driver from the right-hand side of the fairway, he contributed a much-required birdie subsequent to McGreevy’s impressive feat on the last.
A par save from 18 feet ensued on the immediately following hole, and he solidified the tournament soon afterward as he successfully located the concluding pair of greens in regulation to secure his inaugural title and the first for his native nation of Finland.
