Sami Valimaki secures his first PGA TOUR victory at The RSM Classic in a thrilling finish! The final event of the year was full of drama as players battled for their tour cards.
Watch highlights of Valimaki’s clutch performance, including his key putts on the 16th and 18th. We’ll also break down the FedExCup standings and the players who clinched their cards for 2026.
See Max McGreevy’s incredible 30-foot birdie putt and the heartbreak for Lee Hodges and Ricky Castillo as they narrowly missed out on the top 100.
Plus, a hole-in-one by Sam Stevens! All the highlights from a wild final day at Sea Island.
Get ready for an emotional roller coaster as we dive into the thrilling finale of the RSM Classic. A tale of triumphs and heartbreaks unfolds on the PGA Tour's final day of the year. Sami Valamaraki, a Finnish golfer, etched his name in history by becoming the first PGA Tour winner from his country. With a steady four under 66 on Sunday, he secured a one-shot victory. But the real drama unfolded around him as the wind suddenly shifted direction. Valamaraki's putter became his secret weapon, saving par on the 16th and sealing the deal with an 18 ft putt. But here's where it gets controversial. The top 100 players in the FedEx Cup standings, now reduced from 125, earned full PGA Tour cards for the upcoming season. And this is the part most people miss, the intense battle for those last few spots. Ricky Castillo's impressive 28 on the front nine and a 62 finish had him dreaming of a top 100 spot, but Max McGrevy had other plans. His 30-foot birdie putt on the final hole not only secured him second place, but also bumped Castillo down to number 102, missing the cut by a mere 10 points. Lee Hodges with a 10-ft birdie attempt narrowly missed his chance to join the top 100, leaving him at number 101 by a slim margin. The tension was palpable as players fates hung in the balance. Valamaraki, a two-time winner on the DP World Tour, now enjoys a two-year exemption on the PGA Tour and a guaranteed spot in the first two 20 million signature events of 2026. He reflects, "It's been a tough year, even when my game was decent. To find my groove in the last few tournaments feels incredible." Max McGrevy, already secure in his card, moved up to number 60, qualifying for a pair of signature events. His finish pushed Jordan Speath, who didn't play this fall, out of the 60th spot, leaving Spath in need of sponsor exemptions for Pebble Beach and Riviera. McGrevy's freedom from card worries allowed his best golf to shine through at the end of the year. "I never felt nervous. I was playing to win," he said. Niko Aavaria's 65 tied him for fourth and secured his spot in the number 51 to 60 slot for signature events on the West Coast. Sam Stevens, already set for all signature events, made a hole-in-one on the third hole with a nine iron, aiming for a top 50 world ranking to earn a master's spot. It's a tight race and Johnny Kefir, the Cornferryy Tour player of the year, is in a similar position, tied for seventh and likely to move up with tournaments in Australia and South Africa still to come. So, what do you think? Will Valamaraki's victory be a turning point in his career? And what about those last minute card battles? Did they affect your favorite players? Share your thoughts in the comment.
