Sami Välimäki won the Qatar leg of the golf European tour.
Jussi Vainikka,
Simo Arkko,
Risto Ukkonen
Sami Välimäki won the golf European tour competition in Doha, Qatar. Välimäki, who entered the final day of the race in second place, overtook Spain, who led the race Jorge Campillo side by side and finally defeated him on the first replay hole.
Välimäki had a steady track throughout the race. He cleared each of the first three rounds with 67 strokes. In the last round, the Finn used 69 strokes and played a total of 18 under par.
The competition win is Välimäki’s second in his career. The previous victory came in Oman in March 2020.
– Yes, there was a good outburst of emotion. I had been waiting for a long time because the next win will come. It took a long time and I think I would have even deserved it earlier. It’s great that it finally came, Välimäki tells Urheilu.
Välimäki was recently moved in the tour interview and had trouble finding words. He talked about his long journey and how luck has not been on his side.
Välimäki says that a lot came out during the tour interview.
– In a certain way, excitement and some kind of pain. When there was absolutely no (profit), it materialized in a certain way, what I could earn with the profit. This was a career turning point.
Huge prize money
Välimäki received more than 600,000 euros in prize money for his win. However, he emphasizes that the greatest importance is in the possible location of the PGA tour.
– The biggest thing is if I can get a place on the PGA tour and this win would give me a job for three or two years. Those are things that make things easier. That’s the most important thing.
The Nokia native finished seventh in the ranking list of the European tour. The top ten in the ranking, who do not yet have the right to play on the PGA tour, get a PGA card.
– I haven’t thought about it any more. Unfortunately, I can’t say at all whether the place is secure or how it will go. Wait and see.
In the race for third place, they shared Scotland Scott Jamieson and Spain Nacho Elvira with a score of three under.
Remember the Finns Tapio Pulkanen and Kalle Samoa both shared 21st place with a score of ten under par.
Story updated on October 29, 2023 at 7:31 p.m.: added Välimäki’s comments to Urheilu.