Finland’s Sami Valimaki overcame South African Brandon Stone in a three-hole play-off to win his first ever European Tour title at the 2020 Oman Open. Playing the Greg Norman designed Championship golf course, Valimaki shot a stunning 2-under par on the final day, giving him an overall score of 13-under par.
Valimaki was outside the top 100 after day one in Muscat but climbed the leaderboard over the weekend and was alongside Stone in a six-strong tie for the lead after round three.
Despite some final day wobbles, which saw three bogeys and a double bogey, the 21-year-old delivered when it mattered most at Al Mouj Golf. Valimaki managed to keep himself in contention, through sheer grit, posting a back nine which included four birdies, including one on the 18th which set up the play-off.
The duo could not be separated as they both made par on the first two trips back up the last. They both hit perfect drives at the third time of asking, however Stone sent his second shot clattering into the stands and could not get up and down, leaving Valimaki the opportunity to secure the trophy with a par.
Lost for words following his victory, Valimaki said: “It’s awesome. There are not many words to say, it’s unbelievable.
“After the ninth hole when I made a double bogey, I knew that the 10th hole is good, and I had to make a birdie on that. I didn’t make a really good par on 11 and after that bogey I felt like, ‘okay this is gone’, but then I just grinded, made three birdies and on the last, an awesome birdie.”
On the morning of the final day the leaderboard was incredibly tight, with six players at 11-under or better, making Valimaki’s victory even more remarkable. Laid out against the backdrop of the Indian Ocean, Al Mouj Golf proved to be a fitting host for the plethora of world-class golf being played, with the iconic Trophy remaining still up for grabs late into the afternoon and an exciting finale unravelling, as the chasing pack fought it out down the closing holes.
The winner, Sami Valimaki was not the only player to take advantage of the quality and condition of Oman’s first links course, which thrived during its third consecutive season as host venue to the Sultanate’s leading golf event.
Praising the golf course, South African Brandon Stone commented: “This is one of the top five courses I’ve ever played on. Greg Norman has done an incredible job with the design and the ground staff have done an amazing job in getting the course in the condition that it is. This is the first tournament I put on my calendar every season.”
Speaking after a remarkable third edition of the event, Nasser Al Sheibani, CEO of Al Mouj Muscat: ‘’We have just seen first-hand another captivating week of golf at the Oman Open. The tournament has firmly placed itself as one of the premier golf tournaments in the region. This past year we have all been working incredibly hard to secure strong, local support for the tournament, allowing us to boost the game of golf.
He continued: “It’s always such an honour to welcome the world’s finest golfers to showcase Al Mouj Golf’s fantastic offering on the world stage, and huge congratulations to Sami Valimaki on his well-deserved victory. Over the past four days, the world’s best golfers have battled for our coveted Trophy, and we were spoilt today by having such a tight leaderboard before play had even begun.”
Nasser Al Sheibani concluded: “But without the hard work and dedication of all my team, year-on-year, to deliver a world-class golf course in superb condition, then this tournament simply wouldn’t be possible. A huge thank you to all of those who’ve made this year happen. The sights spectators were treated to this week were second to none. The countdown to 2021 has already started and I assure you the Oman Open will continue to go from strength to strength.”
Situated between the Indian Ocean and the Hajar Mountains, just minutes from the heart of Muscat, Al Mouj Golf has increasingly cemented its place as one the Middle East’s finest links courses in recent years. It is this reputation that drew a truly international field to the third season of the European Tour sanctioned event, with ten countries represented in the top 11.
For more information on Al Mouj, please visit: www.almouj.com
For Al Mouj Golf, please visit www.almoujgolf.com
Image 1: 2020 Oman Open and first time European Tour winner, Sami Valimaki
Image 2: Finnish player Sami Valimaki wins three-hole play-off against South African Brandon Stone
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About Al Mouj Muscat
Al Mouj Muscat is the Sultanate’s lifestyle and leisure destination and is a unique public-private venture between the Government of the Sultanate of Oman and the UAE-based Majid Al Futtaim Properties.
Spread along a stunning 6 km stretch of Muscat’s coastline, this world-class Integrated Tourism Complex comprises a group of luxury residential properties including Villas, Townhouses and Apartments, commercial units, retail and dining facilities and Oman’s only signature designed PGA Standard 18-hole links golf course, designed by Greg Norman. Al Mouj Muscat is also home to the 400 berth Al Mouj Marina, Oman’s largest private yachting hub and The Walk, a 70-unit retail area which forms the commercial and leisure hub of the community. Most recently Al Mouj Muscat launched Muscat’s first public square, Marsa Plaza - a leisure, cultural destination and gathering place for residents and visitors, and an arena for live performances, arts exhibitions and community events.
Al Mouj Muscat is also home to the first Kempinski hotel to launch in Oman, as well as 4-star hotel, Mysk Al Mouj.
Al Mouj Muscat is a phased development which provides a world-class lifestyle destination. The next phase of development will see even more residential leisure and hospitality offerings.
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