Kalle Samooja succeeded in Abu Dhabi and claimed the right to play on the LIV golf tour.
Kalle Samoa has won golf’s LIV tour qualifying tournament in Abu Dhabi. The Samoan hit consecutive birdies on the last two holes of the last round and became number one in the competition with a score of eight under par.
With a win, Samoa claims a place on the lucrative LIV tour that started last year for next year. Also runner-up in Japan Jinichiro Kozuma (-7) and the third ranked Englishman Laurie Canter (-7) advance to the tour.
Tapio Pulkanen dropped out of the race after two rounds.
In the season that ended, Samoa lost its right to play on the European tour, so the victory in the LIV qualifying tournament came in a good place.
– I can’t wait to get home, Samooja said before breaking down in tears in an interview with the race organizer.
– I have a wife and three sons waiting at home. This has been a long year. I am really proud to be the first Finnish player on the LIV tour. This is a big step in my career, Samooja continued.
The LIV tour funded by Saudi Arabia, which started last year, has caused a stir in golf circles. Each race on the tour offers $25 million in prize money. There are 48 players on the tour, all of whom receive prize money for each tournament.
Many star players have moved from the traditional North American PGA Tour and European Tour to the LIV Games. They are, for example Phil Mickelson, Bryson DeChambeau and most recently Spanish Jon Rahmwhich announced its decision on Friday.
According to media reports, Rahm’s five-year contract is worth as much as 600 million dollars.
Rahm’s decision has caused a stir in golf, as he has previously criticized the LIV tour and praised the PGA tour. Rahm is, for example previously said his heart is on the PGA Tour.
Rahm declined to comment Friday on his LIV tour fee, but acknowledged it was large. He stressed that he doesn’t play golf for the money.
– I play for the love of the game and golf. I am ambitious but not greedy. However, as a family man, I have an obligation to give my family as many opportunities and resources as possible, Rahm said.
There has been talk of merging golf’s major tours this year. The PGA tour announced in June that it would merge with the LIV tour, but negotiations are still ongoing. The European tour is also involved in the negotiations, which are scheduled to be completed during this year.