Jonny Leighfield
Sami Valimaki is a new name on the PGA Tour, and as a result, many golf fans might not know an awful lot about him. But if you're keen to find out more, keep reading...
1. Valimaki was born on July 16, 1998 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 was once the 10th-ranked amateur in the World Amateur Golf Ranking table (2018) - his highest position.
4. Valimaki turned professional in 2019 after he completed his compulsory military service in Finland at the end of 2018.
5. 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.
Sami Valimaki
6. It didn't take long for the Finn to make an impact. Valimaki earned his first European Tour victory in just his fifth start after defeating Brandon Stone in a playoff at the Oman Open.
7. Valimaki's second DP World Tour victory arrived at the 2023 Qatar Masters via a playoff against Jorge Campillo.
8. At the end of the 2022-23 DP World Tour season, Valimaki finished 12th in the Race to Dubai rankings and consequently earned one of the 10 PGA Tour cards on offer to European-based players.
9. He is only the fourth Finn to win on the European Tour after Mikko Ilonen, Roope Kakko and Mikko Korhonen.
10. 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 Välimäki made up the team - and they managed to defeat England 5-2 in the final.
Sami Valimaki poses with the 2023 Qatar Masters trophy
11. Valimaki plays a full bag of TaylorMade golf clubs and wears Oscar Jacobson clothing.
12. 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.
13. While travelling, the first thing he packs are his headphones. He listens to a lot of podcasts on ice-hockey, the NHL or the NBA.
14. His favourite golf course in the world is Royal Birkdale and his favourite fourball would include Tiger Woods, Tapio Pulkkanen and Dustin Johnson.
15. Valimaki's highest-ever finish at a Major was T68 at the 2023 Open Championship. He has yet to play The Masters and has never made the cut at either the PGA Championship or US Open.
