10 Things You Didn't Know About Sami Valimaki

8 Things You Didn't Know About Sami Valimaki

(Image credit: Getty Images)

By Sam Tremlett published 7 July 20

A one-time winner on the European Tour, here are some facts on the rather unknown Sami Valimaki.

10 Things You Didn't Know About Sami Valimaki

1. The young professional was born in Nokia, Finland which has historic linkage with the multinational telecommunications company.

2. He is still attached to Nokia River Golf, the course located just outside of the town.

3. Valimaki turned professional in 2019 after he completed his compulsory military service in Finland at the end of 2018.

4. He went to the European Tour's Q-School in 2019 and from six rounds of competition he produced four rounds in the 60's to secure his card for the 2020 season.

5. It didn't take long for the Finn to make an impact. Valimaki earned his first European Tour victory in just his 6th start after defeating Brandon Stone in a playoff at the Oman Open. In the process he became only the 4th Finn to win on the European Tour after Mikko Ilonen, Roope Kakko and Mikko Korhonen.

Speaking at the time he said: “There are not many words to say, it’s unbelievable. It is great that more Finnish golfers are doing well in the sport and golf is getting more popular there in Finland.”

A photo posted by on

6. Alongside other young talent from Finland, Valimaki represented his country at the 2018 European Amateur Team Championship. Matias Honkala, Jonatan Jolkkonen, Santeri Lehesmaa, Veeti Mähönen, Aleksi Myllymäki and Sami Välimäki made up the team and they managed to defeat England in the final by five points to two.

7. Valimaki plays a full bag of TaylorMade golf clubs and wears Oscar Jacobson clothing.

8. Valimaki actually won his very first event as a professional golfer. Playing at the Open Casa Green Golf in Casablanca, Morocco, he secured a two-stroke victory.

9. Whilst travelling the first thing he packs are his headphones. He listens to a lot of podcasts on ice-hockey, the NHL or the NBA.

10. His favourite golf course in the world is Royal Birkdale and his favourite fourball would include Tiger Woods, Tapio Pulkkanen and Dustin Johnson.

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Sam Tremlett

A golfer for most of his life, Sam started playing the game to prove he was the best player out of his father and two brothers.
He quickly became a golf equipment expert and has always been the one family and friends come to for buying advice, and spends a lot of his time putting golf gear, apparel and shoes to the test.
He is a graduate of Swansea University where he studied History and American Studies, and he has been a part of the Golf Monthly team since February 2018. He also previously worked for World Soccer and Rugby World magazines.

A jack of all trades across print and digital formats, Sam now spends most of his time testing and looking after golf gear content for the website. He also oversees all Tour player content as well.

Unfortunately, Sam is not a member of any club at the moment but regularly gets out on the golf course to keep up the facade of having a handicap of five.

Sam is currently playing:
Driver: Titleist TS3
Fairway Wood: TaylorMade M5 (15 degrees), Nike Covert Tour 2.0 (19 degrees)
Irons (4-PW): Titleist AP2
Wedges: Titleist Vokey SM7 54˚, 58˚
Putter: Scotty Cameron Circa 62 #6