Sami Valimaki took a one-shot victory at the RSM Classic at Sea Island to claim the first PGA Tour title of his career.
Valimaki became Finland’s first PGA Tour winner after closing with a four-under 66 in the final event of the year, finishing at 23 under. After two runner-up finishes over the past two seasons, he used his putter from below the green on the 16th and then holed an 18-foot putt, remaining steady over the closing holes even as the wind shifted and strengthened late in the day.
The top 100 in the FedExCup standings — down from 125 players in previous years — earn full PGA Tour cards for the 2026 season. Ricky Castillo shot 28 on the front nine and closed with a 62; when he finished it looked like that would be enough to move him from No. 135 into the top 100. But Max McGreevy holed a 30-foot birdie putt on the final hole for a 63, moving into solo second and pushing Castillo down to No. 102 by fewer than 10 points.
Lee Hodges narrowly missed a 10-foot birdie putt after McGreevy’s finish; his par 66 left him at No. 101 in the FedExCup standings by about two points.
Valimaki now has a two-year exemption on the PGA Tour and, by finishing No. 51 in the FedExCup, is assured of playing in the first two $20m signature events of 2026. “It has been a long road, of course,” Valimaki said. “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.”
McGreevy, who already had his card secured, moved up to No. 60 and also qualified for a pair of signature events to start next year. His rise bumped Jordan Spieth, who did not play this autumn, down from the 60th spot, meaning Spieth will need sponsor exemptions for Pebble Beach and Riviera. “I never felt that nervous,” McGreevy said. “I felt like I was playing to win. Luckily, my best golf came out at the end of the year.”
Nico Echavarria shot 65 to tie for fourth and moved into that No. 51-60 range for the West Coast signature events. Sam Stevens made a hole-in-one on the third with a nine-iron over a bunker to a front pin and closed with a 63 to join an 11-way tie for seventh. Stevens, at No. 48 in the world, was aiming to remain inside the top 50 at year’s end to secure a spot in The Masters.
Johnny Keefer, the Korn Ferry Tour player of the year who entered the week at No. 50, was also part of the big tie for seventh and figures to move up a few spots, with tournaments still to be held in Australia and South Africa later in the year.