Sami Valimaki Wins Oman Open In Playoff
The Finn beat Brandon Stone on the third-extra hole to win his maiden European Tour title in Oman


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The Finn beat Brandon Stone on the third-extra hole to win his maiden European Tour title in Oman
Sami Valimaki Wins Oman Open In Playoff
Sami Valimaki had only played in five European Tour events prior to the Oman Open but looked like a veteran in a superb victory at Al Mouj Golf.
The Finn started the day tied for the lead and shot two under in the final round, featuring a birdie on 16 and another at the 18th, to reach a playoff with Brandon Stone.
He then won on the third-extra hole after the South African bogeyed.
Valimaki only turned pro last year and had previously been playing on the Nordic Golf League and Pro Golf Tour developmental tours.
The 21-year-old is a proven winner after an incredible 2019 where he won four times on the Pro Golf Tour including in three consecutive starts.
He then gained his European Tour card via Q-School.
Valimaki won €265,000 and moves up to a career-high 159th from 372nd.
"It's awesome," he said.
Watch: Valimaki's birdie on 18 in regulation to force playoff -
"There are not many words to say, it's unbelievable.
"After the ninth hole when I made a double I knew that the tenth hole is good and I had to make a birdie on that.
"I didn't make a really good par on 11 and after that bogey I felt like, 'okay this is gone'. But then I just grinded, made three birdies and on the last, an awesome birdie."
Oman Open Leaderboard:
1 Sami Valimaki -13
2 Brandon Stone -13
3 Adrien Saddier -12
4 Mikko Korhonen -11
4 Guido Migliozzi -11
6 Alejandro Canizares -9
6 George Coetzee -9
6 Rasmus Hojgaard -9
6 Jordan Smith -9
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Elliott Heath is our Senior Staff Writer and has been with Golf Monthly since early 2016 after graduating with a degree in Sports Journalism. He manages the Golf Monthly news, features, courses and travel sections as well as our large Facebook, Twitter and Instagram pages. He covered the 2022 Masters from Augusta National as well as four Open Championships on-site including the 150th at St Andrews. His first Open was in 2017 at Royal Birkdale, when he walked inside the ropes with Jordan Spieth during the Texan's memorable Claret Jug triumph. He has played 35 of our Top 100 golf courses, with his favourites being both Sunningdales, Woodhall Spa, Western Gailes, Old Head and Turnberry. He has been obsessed with the sport since the age of 8 and currently plays at West Byfleet Golf Club in Surrey, where his handicap index floats anywhere between 2-5. His golfing highlights are making albatross on the 9th hole on the Hotchkin Course at Woodhall Spa, shooting an under-par round, playing in the Aramco Team Series on the Ladies European Tour and making his one and only hole-in-one at the age of 15 - a long time ago now!
Elliott is currently playing:
Driver: Titleist TSR4
3 wood: TaylorMade SIM2 Max
Hybrid: TaylorMade SIM Max
Irons: Mizuno MP5 4-PW
Wedges: Cleveland RTX ZipCore 50, 54, 58
Putter: Odyssey White Hot OG #5
Ball: TaylorMade TP5x
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