VALSPAR CHAMPIONSHIP

March 20, 2025

Sami Valimaki

Innisbrook Resort (Copperhead)

Quick Quotes

Q. Good playing, tied for the lead to start. How do you feel about your day and what was clicking for you out there?

SAMI VALIMAKI: Yeah, I mean, really solid ball striking. Just had one tough hole. After that played really good. I made a couple of momentum putts.

Q. How did the conditions kind of change throughout the afternoon, it was a unique one with some weather.

SAMI VALIMAKI: Yeah, it wasn't the best time to be on the golf course, but just managed to make it especially we had the rain second, third and fourth, it was tough in that time but managed to make a couple pars.

Q. How would you assess your season so far to this point?

SAMI VALIMAKI: I would say, I mean, I've been really solid now last couple tournaments, but just haven't got the kind of all the things together. So I feel like if I can get that one it's going to be an awesome week.

Q. Was there anything you worked on earlier this week that helped you kind of lock in today?

SAMI VALIMAKI: No, just try to keep the same. I tried couple different putters but keep the old one and now it worked out. So that's always good.

Q. Last fall I know you didn't play RSM because you had family, did you have a family -- a baby?

SAMI VALIMAKI: Yeah, I got a baby boy, so I didn't have time to go over there. So I got kind of little lucky, and it's, I knew it's going to be tight, but sometimes you got to do it.

Q. Was that nervous at all or there was too much going on you didn't worry about it?

SAMI VALIMAKI: I knew that it really doesn't matter. Even if I go there I'm probably going to shoot a couple 80s and then go back, so just save the money.

Q. Why do you think you would shoot a couple 80s?

SAMI VALIMAKI: I didn't touch a golf club in several weeks and I heard it's going to be cold and windy, so I didn't have a good chance.