Sami Valimaki defeated Max McGreevy by one shot to win the 2025 RSM Classic. In just his 54th start, he picked up his first career win and became the first player from Finland to win on the PGA Tour.
Valimaki held a two-shot lead over his closest competitors after shooting a 65 (-5) during round three of the RSM Classic. Michael Thorbjornsen and Patrick Rodgers were tied for second at 17-under after both having shot 68 (-2) in round three.
Valimaki carded a 33 (-2) on the front nine with three birdies and one bogey. When he made the turn, he had a two-shot lead over four other golfers, including Ricky Castillo. Castillo birdied seven holes on the front nine (five of them consecutively) to shoot a 28 (-7) and get within two of the leader.
The back nine started with a birdie for Valimaki to extend his lead to three. McGreevy tied Valimaki atop the leaderboard with a birdie on the 18th hole. That tie did not last long, as Valimaki birdied the 15th hole to take the lead at 23-under. He made par on his last three holes to secure his victory and become the fifth consecutive first-time winner at this event.
For Valimaki, this win secures a two-year exemption on the PGA Tour and moves him to 51st in the FedExCup standings, locking in his spot in the first two signature events of the 2026 season.
“I feel like it’s a really tough year even when I kind of played decent golf, and then to keep pushing and find some good grooves in the last few tournaments, it feels amazing,” Valimaki said after his victory.
McGreevy and Nico Echavarria also jumped into the top 60 of the FedExCup to earn spots in those signature events. The three golfers that fell out of the top 60 are Jake Knapp, Kevin Yu and three-time major champion Jordan Spieth.
The 2026 PGA Tour season will kick off in January at the Sony Open, where Nick Taylor is the defending champion.
