SIMMONS ISLAND, Ga. — Sami Valimaki became the first Finn to win on the PGA Tour on Sunday with a 4-under 66 for a one-shot win at the final RSM Classic of the year. Hopes rose and fell during the last hour at Sea Island.
Valimaki, who has been runner-up twice in the past two seasons, used his putter from under the green on the 16th hole and sank an 18-foot putt. He was steady over the closing hole, even though the wind picked up a little and changed direction quickly later in the day.
Everything happening before his eyes was much more dramatic.
The top 100 players in the FedEx Cup standings have a full card on the PGA Tour for the 2026 season, when the field will be smaller, down from 125 players the previous year.
Ricky Castillo shot a 28 on the front nine and closed with a 62, which appeared to be enough to move him from 135th place into the top 100 by the time he finished. But then Max McGreevy sank a 30-foot birdie putt on the final hole for a 63 and moved into sole second place.
This dropped Castillo to 102nd place with a difference of less than 10 points.
Immediately after McGreevey holed his putt, Lee Hodges went for a 10-foot birdie but missed, losing his chance to break into the top 100. With a par of 66, he finished in 101st place in the FedEx Cup standings, about 2 points behind.
When the RSM Classic concluded, there were no changes to the 95th to 100th place competitors going into the final event.
Then there was Valimaki, a two-time European Tour winner and runner-up in Mexico two weeks ago. He currently has a two-year exemption on the PGA Tour, and a 51st-place finish at the FedEx Cup will guarantee him a spot in the first $20 million signature event in 2026.
Valimaki’s victory 🇫🇮 🏆
Sami Valimaki becomes the first Finnish player to win on the PGA Tour! pic.twitter.com/xHr6dRzTYW
— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) November 23, 2025
“Of course it’s been a long journey,” Valimaki said. “I feel like it’s been a really tough year even though I’ve been playing some decent golf. I’ve been able to keep pushing after that and find a good groove over the last few tournaments and it feels great.”
McGreevy, whose card had already been sealed, moved up to No. 60 and qualified for two signature events starting next year. His finish pushed Jordan Spieth, who did not play this fall, out of 60th place, so Spieth will need sponsor exemptions from Pebble Beach and Riviera.
McGreevey played freely, knowing he didn’t have to worry about playing for his cards.
“I’ve never been that nervous,” he said. “I felt like I was playing to win. Luckily, my best golf came at the end of the year.”
Nico Echavarria shot a 65 to tie for fourth place and move into the 51st-60th place slot for the West Coast’s marquee event.
Sam Stephens hit a 9-iron over the bunker to the front pin on the third hole for a hole-in-one, reeling in a 63 and joining him in an 11-way tie for seventh place. He was already ready to participate in all the representative events. Ranked 48th in the world, his goal was to stay in the top 50 at the end of the year and qualify for the Masters.
It’s too close to decide the rankings, as was the case with Korn Ferry Tour Player of the Year Johnny Keefer, who entered this week at No. 50. Both are tied for seventh place and will likely be able to move up a few places with tournaments still being held in Australia and South Africa for the rest of the year.
