ST. SIMONS ISLAND, Ga. (AP) — Sami Valimaki made history on Sunday by becoming the first Finnish golfer to claim a PGA Tour victory. He achieved this milestone with a final round of 4-under 66, clinching a narrow one-shot win at the RSM Classic. This event, the last of the year, featured a thrilling conclusion on Sea Island as fortunes swung dramatically in the closing hour.

Valimaki, who had previously secured two runner-up finishes in the past two seasons, showcased his skill by executing a putt from below the green on the 16th hole and sinking an 18-foot putt. Despite the sudden and forceful wind changes late in the day, he remained composed during the final stretch.

The real drama, however, unfolded with the players ahead of him.

This tournament was crucial for golfers aiming to secure their spot in the top 100 of the FedEx Cup standings. With a new rule reducing the number of players with full PGA Tour cards from 125 to 100, competition intensified as players vied for a place in the more exclusive 2026 season.

Ricky Castillo delivered an impressive performance by shooting 28 on the front nine and concluding with a 62. Initially, it seemed this would be enough to propel him from No. 135 into the top 100. However, Max McGreevy’s stunning 30-foot birdie putt on the final hole, securing a 63, pushed him into second place, altering the leaderboard dramatically.

That bumped Castillo down to No. 102 by fewer than 10 points.

Right after McGreevy holed his putt, Lee Hodges had a 10-foot birdie attempt that narrowly missed and cost him a chance to move into the top 100. The par for a 66 left him at No. 101 in the FedEx Cup standings by about two points.

When the RSM Classic ended, the players at Nos. 95 to 100 going into the final event were unchanged.

And there was Valimaki, a two-time winner on the European tour who was runner-up two weeks ago in Mexico. Now he has a two-year exemption on the PGA Tour and is assured of playing the first two $20 million signature events of 2026 by finishing at No. 51 in the FedEx Cup.

“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 locked up, moved up to No. 60 to also qualify for a pair of signature events to start next year. His finish bumped Jordan Spieth, who did not play this fall, from the 60th spot, meaning Spieth will need sponsor exemptions for Pebble Beach and Riviera.

McGreevyplayed with freedom knowing he didn’t have to worry about playing for his card.

“I never felt that nervous,” he 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 slot for signature events on the West Coast.

Sam Stevens made a hole-in-one on the third hole with a 9-iron over a bunker to a front pin and wound up with a 63 to join an 11-way tie for seventh place. He already was set for all the signature events. On his mind at No. 48 in the world ranking was staying in the top 50 at year’s end to earn a spot in the Masters.

It’s too close to call, as it is for Johnny Keefer, the Korn Ferry Tour player of the year who came into the week at No. 50. Both were in that big tie for seventh and figure to move up a few spots, with tournaments still to be held in Australia and South Africa the rest of the year.

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