PGA Tour: Sami Valimaki wins first title as Finn secures one-shot victory in RSM Classic at Sea Island

Sami Valimaki took a one-shot victory on the RSM Basic at Sea Island to win the primary PGA Tour title of his profession.

Valimaki grew to become Finland’s first PGA Tour winner when he closed with a four-under 66 within the last occasion of the 12 months.

After two runner-up finishes over the previous two seasons, Valimaki used putter from beneath the inexperienced on the sixteenth after which holed an 18-foot putt. He was regular over the closing holes even because the wind abruptly modified course with extra power late within the day as he ended on 23 beneath.

The highest 100 within the FedExCup standings – down from 125 gamers in earlier years – get full PGA Tour playing cards for the 2026 season. Ricky Castillo shot 28 on the entrance 9, closed with a 62 and when he completed it seemed like that will be sufficient for him to maneuver from No 135 to inside the highest 100.

However then Max McGreevy holed a 30-foot birdie putt on the ultimate gap for a 63, shifting him into second place alone.

That bumped Castillo right down to No 102 by fewer than 10 factors.

Proper after McGreevy holed his putt, Lee Hodges had a 10-foot birdie try that narrowly missed and value him an opportunity to maneuver into the highest 100. The par for a 66 left him at No 101 within the FedExCup standings by about two factors.

Valimaki now has a two-year exemption on the PGA Tour and is assured of enjoying within the first two $20m signature occasions of 2026 by ending at No 51 within the FedExCup.

“It has been a protracted street, after all,” Valimaki stated. “I really feel prefer it’s a very powerful 12 months even after I sort of performed first rate golf, after which to maintain pushing and discover some good grooves in the previous couple of tournaments, it feels superb.”

McGreevy, who already had his card locked up, moved as much as No 60 to additionally qualify for a pair of signature occasions to begin subsequent 12 months. His end bumped Jordan Spieth, who didn’t play this autumn, down from the sixtieth spot, which means Spieth will want sponsor exemptions for Pebble Seaside and Riviera.

McGreevy performed with freedom figuring out he didn’t have to fret about enjoying for his card.

“I by no means felt that nervous,” he stated. “I felt like I used to be enjoying to win. Fortunately, my finest golf got here out on the finish of the 12 months.”

Nico Echavarria shot 65 to tie for fourth and moved into that No 51-60 slot for signature occasions on the West Coast.

Sam Stevens made a hole-in-one on the third gap with a nine-iron over a bunker to a entrance pin and wound up with a 63 to affix an 11-way tie for seventh place. He already was set for all of the signature occasions. On his thoughts at No 48 on the planet rating was staying within the prime 50 at 12 months’s finish to earn a spot in The Masters.

It’s too near name, as it’s for Johnny Keefer, the Korn Ferry Tour participant of the 12 months who got here into the week at No 50. Each have been in that huge tie for seventh and determine to maneuver up just a few spots, with tournaments nonetheless to be held in Australia and South Africa the remainder of the 12 months.