Sami Valimaki didn’t begin his athletic journey on a lush fairway; he started with dreams of skating on ice. Growing up in Finland, he once harbored aspirations of playing in the NHL. His 6’2″ build and athleticism made hockey a natural dream.
But life had other plans. When Valimaki entered mandatory national military service, he found himself enduring harsh conditions: sub-zero temperatures, forested terrain, and rigorous training far removed from any athletic glamour.
It was during this period of discipline and adversity that golf began to really take root, setting him on a path far different than the ice rinks of his youth.
Amateur Standout
Before turning professional, Valimaki had already built a strong reputation as an amateur. In 2018, he helped lead Finland to victory at the European Amateur Team Championship, showcasing the early signs of the competitiveness and power he would later bring to the pro ranks.
That same year, even as he began his mandatory national military service, he continued his development by competing on the Nordic Golf League whenever his training schedule allowed. His military obligations were no small task; he endured subzero temperatures, slept in tents, and went through grueling field exercises he described as “minus 20, 25 degrees … a hard time over there.”
Despite the rugged conditions, Valimaki’s talent still pushed him forward. As a designated sportsman, he was given limited stretches where he could practice or travel to tournaments, keeping him sharp enough to maintain his upward trajectory. Those efforts paid off quickly.
He turned professional in early 2019, before being officially discharged, and immediately made noise by winning his pro debut on the Pro Golf Tour in Morocco. He didn’t slow down, either. Valimaki added three more titles that season on the developmental circuit, bypassing the Challenge Tour entirely and instead earning his DP World Tour card through Q-School.
His rise only accelerated from there. In just his fifth start on the DP World Tour, he broke through with a victory at the Oman Open–the second-to-last event before the pandemic shut the season down.
Less than two years after turning pro, Valimaki earned his first major start at the 2020 U.S. Open at Winged Foot, a testament to how quickly he climbed through the ranks. His second DP World Tour win came three years later at the 2023 Qatar Masters, fueling a top-15 finish in the Race to Dubai and punching his ticket to the PGA Tour for a chance to be Finland’s first Tour winner.
Becoming Finland’s First PGA Tour Winner
That opportunity finally arrived at the 2025 RSM Classic. On a windy, pressure-packed Sunday at Sea Island, Valimaki closed with a 4-under 66 to finish at 23-under overall and edged out Max McGreevy by just one stroke.
With that victory he made history: becoming the first Finnish golfer to win on the PGA Tour.
It wasn’t just about the win. He did it with calm under pressure–saving par on the 16th with a clutch putt from off the green, then sealing it on 18 under swirling winds. Those moments spoke volumes about his nerve, confidence, and mental resilience under fire.
“I just wanted to show the people it’s possible from there,” Valimaki said.
By season’s end, he ranked No. 51 in the FedExCup standings. That finish earned him exemptions into the first two major signature events of the 2026 PGA Tour season–a huge boon that gives him a clearer path to cement his status among golf’s elite.
“It has been a long road, of course,” Valimaki said. “I feel like, kind of how the last year taught me, 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, so it feels amazing.”
What Makes Valimaki Different
What sets Valimaki apart from many peers is his unusual sporting background. Few PGA Tour winners can say they once dreamed of playing center in the NHL, or that they endured military training in sub-zero forests before even picking up a club seriously.
That toughness seems to have translated, physically and mentally, to the golf course. Whether braving brutal winters as a serviceman or grinding through minor tours early in his career, Valimaki learned resilience. And now, when the wind picks up, or the pressure mounts, that background gives him an edge many of his peers don’t have.
Also notable, despite being 27 years old, he’s already amassed a well-rounded resume: multiple professional wins in Europe, a U.S. Tour win, and a growing reputation as a long hitter with a calm temperament in the clutch.
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