WITB: Sami Välimäki – 2025 RSM Classic Champion

Sami Välimäki made history at the 2025 RSM Classic, becoming the first Finnish player ever to win on the PGA Tour. With a combination of long putts and composed ball striking he closed the event with a cool 66 to claim the 2025 RSM Classic. With this win, he finishes at number 51 on the FedEx Cup Fall standings which gains him exemptions into the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am and the Gensis invitational.

As an equipment free agent, Välimäki has a mixed bag of equipment suited to his game to give him the advantage he needs to perform at the highest level.  All WITB information is courtesy of GolfWRX.

 

Driver: Titleist GT3 (8°)

Shaft: Project X HZRDUS Smoke Red RDX 70 TX

Välimäki’s driver setup this week reflects a player who prioritizes consistent ball flight and the ability to shape the golf ball over pure distance. The GT3 head offers neutral shaping with highly consistent spin rates. It is a lower-spinning model that still allows precise shot-shaping off the tee. Paired with the Smoke Red RDX 70 TX shaft, the combination provides low torque and a stable feel, giving high-speed players like Välimäki the confidence to swing freely, even under the pressure of the back nine on Sunday.

Fitting Insight:
Players with higher swing speeds, like Välimäki, benefit from a stiff butt section for control in the hands. What sets the Smoke Red shaft apart is its more active tip section, which provides a degree of forgiveness if the club gets slightly behind the player—something Välimäki occasionally does. Understanding a golfer’s swing tendencies is just as important as matching numbers in a fitting, and this shaft-head combination reflects that principle perfectly.

 

Mini Driver: TaylorMade R7 Quad (13.5°)

Shaft: Project X HZRDUS Smoke Red RDX

Välimäki bags a R7 Quad mini driver. At 13.5°, it serves as a fairway finder off the tee on positional holes whilst giving him a blend of stopping power into the greens. The pairing of the same HZRDUS shaft he plays in his driver gives him a unique blend of launch, spin stability, and shot-shaping control that he made the most of in the windy conditions coming down the stretch.

Fitting Insight:

The mini driver has made a significant impact on fittings this year. For Välimäki, it has been a game changer on long par 5s, helping him reach greens more effectively. He uses the same shaft in the mini driver as in his driver, maintaining familiarity and feel across the top of his bag. The Smoke Red shaft is generally higher launching, which pairs well with a lower-lofted club designed for approach shots—exactly as Välimäki demonstrated with his clutch shot on the 15th yesterday.

A 7-wood built for height, stopping power, and versatility from varied lies. Välimäki uses the Qi35 to attack long par 5s and hold firm greens—a crucial tool at Sea Island. A popular switch for a lot of players on tour this year due to the added forgiveness benefits that a metal provides over a more traditionally lofted long iron.

Fitting Insight:

For many tour players, putting a 7 metal in the bag gives them a huge advantage into the greens that they cannot attain with a traditional long iron. Välimäki can achieve a higher launch than a 5-wood and tighter dispersion than a long iron. Ideal for attack shots into par-5s or long par-4s where stopping power is key. In our fittings this year this has been a no brainer for many people; we can see a jump of over 10 degrees of land angle but replacing your trusty 3 iron with a metal in the same loft.

Irons: PING Blueprint S (4–9)

Shafts: True Temper Dynamic Gold Tour Issue MID X100

The Blueprint S irons continue PING’s clean-forged lineage. Välimäki opts for the S over the T for slightly more forgiveness while maintaining the workability and compact profile he prefers. The MID X100 shaft gives him a touch more launch without sacrificing the stout, Tour-caliber feel of the classic dynamic gold prdocut.

Fitting insight:

The Blueprint S irons feature a compact, forged shape with a slightly thinner sole than the T model, striking a balance between workability and forgiveness. In fittings, these irons are often selected for golfers seeking precision without sacrificing playability. The MID X100 shafts complement the irons perfectly, providing a stable feel and consistently reliable launch conditions, making them a popular choice in club fitting.

Wedges: Titleist Vokey SM10

Shafts: Dynamic Gold Tour Issue X100

Välimäki’s wedge setup emphasizes versatility and consistency. It is often noted that players will vary their bounce selections in their bags to give them all the tools in the shed to approach all the different situations that may come across. Välimäki has a classic Vokey progression with an all-business setup:

46F & 50F for gap control and versatility
56S for square-faced consistency
60T for max creativity from tight lies


Fitting Insight:

Välimäki’s bounce selection covers a range of turf conditions: mid bounce for firmer lies (F), standard for approach control (S), and low bounce (T) for delicate shots. It’s not uncommon for better players to opt for a specialty wedge rather than a standard set wedge, but this approach can benefit golfers at all levels during fittings. Sometimes, a standard set wedge doesn’t gap properly within a player’s bag—perhaps producing too much ball speed—so we may switch to a different wedge to better balance distance gapping and optimize performance.

Putter: Odyssey White Hot OG 2-Ball

Grip: SuperStroke Zenergy Pistol 1.0

Välimäki relies on the timeless alignment confidence of the 2-Ball putter paired with the soft, iconic White Hot insert. He has also added his own Sharpie alignment line on top for an extra aiming aid. In fittings, we are always looking for ways to help players maximize their alignment and consistency. This small modification clearly works for him, highlighting why finding the right alignment setup is critical when selecting a putter that fits your game.