Sami Välimäki reflects on a gritty, bounce-back round at the RSM Classic. After a shaky start, the Finn sparked a turnaround with a brilliant shot at No. 3 and a run of precise irons from holes 6–9 — finally earning some applause after a quiet week.
He explains how shifting winds made the back nine trickier, why he stayed patient despite missed chances, and what his game plan is for Sunday: get off to a fast start, stay aggressive on birdie holes, and expect pressure from the chasers.
Välimäki also talks about his preferred shot shape, whether he draws confidence from past victories, his Olympic dreams for Finland, and how relaxed venues — like Mexico and Sea Island — seem to unlock his lowest scoring.
A calm, confident, and focused contender heading into the final round.
Sammy, how would you kind of characterize the round today? Uh, it wasn’t the start what I was looking for, but then of course the kind of the turnaround on the number three hit the great shot over there and then few good ones from the 6 to9. So, it was nice little comeback. Sammy, did you take a couple of those approach shots on the front were in? Uh, no. I didn’t take the in, but I was actually I haven’t had any claps on this week, so I knew when I heard the claps though, it should be should be pretty close. What did you hit in the eight? Uh 50 and I think it was in foot. Okay. And then you hit so many iron shots close on the front and on the back. Didn’t have a whole lot had a lot lot of long birdie putts. Was the wind getting tricky by the time you got to the back? Yeah, I feel like of course it’s start to come in more from the left and like the I mean bad shot on the number 10 and 13. So that kind of gave it away as well. Uh just long long clubs in and from the fairway trap. Was it frustrating or is it hard to keep your patience on the back? No, I feel like I I still hit the solid shot. So I feel like I knew it it’s going to be a little bit trickier. So that’s why I wasn’t kind of too frustrated. I knew the 15 and 16 is the kind of the good opportunities. Just couldn’t make the 16. So but still decent back now. What’s your biggest focus tomorrow to hopefully be holding the trophy at the end of the day? Um, I must say I’m hoping the good start. I feel like that’s kind of staying uh have a couple shot clear like end of the front line would be great, but just try to make the birdies. I know the guys behind is is coming fast. Is there anything you kind of pull from like in your past, you know, you know, successes they’ve had in golf to help you tomorrow? I mean of course you can but I still still would say it’s a one day new day tomorrow and everyone know you just need to have a good day tomorrow. So just try to do the same things what I did today. I saw a lot of very straight shot. Is that your ordinary shape or do you like to shape the ball? Uh, I mainly try to draw the ball. That’s if I can do that, that’s the best one. That’s the best for you. Yeah. Would you like to be the next player to win a medal in the Olympics? Yeah, that would be nice. I don’t think we have a many opportunities anyways over there. So even in doesn’t matter in the golf or where but it would be cool. I was looking up athletes today and I got to follow who had all the long running and whatnot. So good luck. Thank you. How um how many people back home do you think are tuning in? Like not people who know you, but how many people in Finland are do you think are paying attention to the RSM Classic? Hopefully few hundred at least. I no no no no idea but I hope I I I would say tomorrow is it’s going to be pretty good I would say. So what what is it about like relaxed venues on tour? I mean you played well in Mexico like here. Do you feel like that brings out something more in your game when it’s just a little bit more low-key or Yeah, I I actually haven’t think about why why it has been that way, but of course I’ve been I always enjoyed the shooting low low scores and then irons and the putting is good. So, probably that’s one thing why it brings kind of these low low scoring weeks. Good. Thank you. Um, we’re just going to finish up with the Euro Sport right down here.
