Sami Välimäki
Golf Digest Middle East|January 2021
The 2020 Sir Henry Cotton Rookie-of-theYear hopes to continue his new love affair with desert golf to keep his name on captain Pádraig Harrington’s Ryder Cup radar
KENT GRAY
Sami Välimäki

SAMI VÄLIMÄKI’S STATUS as the mystery man of the European Tour is in serious danger.

We know, we know. How can you call the 2020 Sir Henry Cotton Rookie-of-theYear an enigma? Well, we get that the 22-year-old Fin won the Oman Open in just his sixth European Tour start and we thoroughly admired his flashy start cum fighting finish in the final round of the DP World Tour Championship in the company of eventual Race to Dubai champion Lee Westwood.

But beyond the nugget that he won at Al Mouj Golf just 18 months after completing compulsory military service with the Finnish Army, and that he reached as high as No.10 in the Amateur World Golf Ranking during a decorated junior career, relatively little of the Välimäki backstory has emerged.

This story is from the January 2021 edition of Golf Digest Middle East.

Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.

This story is from the January 2021 edition of Golf Digest Middle East.

Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.

MORE STORIES FROM GOLF DIGEST MIDDLE EASTView All
Tempting Entrée
Golf Digest Middle East

Tempting Entrée

INDUSTRY IDENTITIES AND A FORMER SIX NATIONS STAR AMONG THE BIG NAMES ROLLED OUT FOR THE EAGL’S SUMMER DRESS-REHEARSAL

time-read
3 mins  |
June 2021
Golf Digest Middle East

Year of the Comeback

Tour pros of all ages are rediscovering their mojo

time-read
4 mins  |
June 2021
THE GOLF STAYCATION PERFECTED
Golf Digest Middle East

THE GOLF STAYCATION PERFECTED

Golf Digest Middle East’s inaugural Play & Stay is coming to Radisson Dubai DAMAC Hills and Trump Dubai

time-read
2 mins  |
June 2021
THE GENIUS OF JORDAN
Golf Digest Middle East

THE GENIUS OF JORDAN

HE WANTED A CONFIDENT, RELIABLE SWING. HE FOUND IT IN A CLEVER WAY

time-read
5 mins  |
June 2021
The Starter
Golf Digest Middle East

The Starter

The Nairn Golf Club

time-read
1 min  |
June 2021
Undercover Caddie
Golf Digest Middle East

Undercover Caddie

Think you could carry a 40-pound bag for a living?

time-read
4 mins  |
June 2021
DRIVE BLAST PUTT
Golf Digest Middle East

DRIVE BLAST PUTT

THREE WAYS TO RAISE YOUR GAME

time-read
2 mins  |
June 2021
Get Set - Ball-striking success starts at address
Golf Digest Middle East

Get Set - Ball-striking success starts at address

AMATEURS OFTEN STAND OVER THE BALL with their feet too wide apart. I understand the appeal—they want to feel more stable throughout the swing, and a wider stance seems a logical way to achieve that.

time-read
4 mins  |
June 2021
Take 5
Golf Digest Middle East

Take 5

It’s hot but that’s no excuse not to warm-up before every round and range session

time-read
2 mins  |
June 2021
Classic Closer
Golf Digest Middle East

Classic Closer

Our monthly guide to taming the region’s stroke index 1 holes has gone off-piste. Dubai Creek Golf & Yacht Club professional Matthew Brookes heads to arguably the toughest finishing hole in Middle East golf

time-read
2 mins  |
June 2021