Golfer Sami Välimäki, who took a break from playing in November, had to wait until the last moments for his right to play on the PGA tour.
Anni Jämsä,
Jouko Vuolle
11:17•Updated 11:18
Finnish golfer Sami Välimäki see you on the PGA tour next season as well.
However, the continuation was tight. The first 125 players on the ranking list claimed the full right to play, and Välimäki was the 123rd on this list.
The Finn did not compete in the last races of the season. He took a break from playing after October, because the Välimäki family’s first child was born in November.
The relieved golf star admits to Urheilu that he had to wait until the end for the final ranking.
– It’s nice that it ended like this. It looked bad at the end, and maybe the ax was already in the hole.
Since the right to play was secured only in the last meters, Välimäki had also had to make a backup plan for next season.
– I would have played a full season on the European tour and thereby aimed for a ranking in the top ten and a year later for the PGA tour.
Now, however, the plans are clear to the new father. The PGA Tour starts in the United States in January.
– This is a much nicer option in many ways. You don’t have to think about where to play next year.
The level was surprising
A year ago, Välimäki made Finnish golf history when he became the first Finn to play a full season on the PGA tour. The past season in new circles offered surprises.
– The level was surprisingly hard. Maybe it was a little obvious that you had to play really hard.
– Every week there was a new place ahead. It was surprisingly challenging and exhausting to always study new fields.
Next week, Välimäki will play the European Tour in South Africa. Development targets before the start of the PGA tour are clear in mind.
– Approaches below 150 meters must be better. The zipping also needs to be brought to a better level, so then it will be possible to fight for the top places again.