Kalle Samooja (born 25 January 1988) is a Finnish professional golfer.
Early life Samooja was born in Turku, Finland. He started playing golf when he was eight years old after being introduced to the game by his father.
Professional career Samooja competed in the European Tour Qualifying School in 2008, 2009, 2010, 2013, and 2014. He did not make it onto the European Tour during any of these experiences. During this interim period he primarily played on the Asian Tour. He did not have a ton of success but recorded top-10 finishes at the 2012 Handa Faldo Cambodian Classic and 2015 Philippine Open.
In 2016, Samooja made it on to the European Tour's developmental tour, the Challenge Tour. Samooja finished 69th and 71st on the Challenge Tour's Order of Merit in 2016 and 2017. In 2018, he won the Hainan Open and finished 4th on the Order of Merit earning a promotion to the European Tour.
In 2019, his rookie season on the European Tour, Samooja recorded four top-25 finishes through the first half of the year including a top-10 at the Kenya Open. Samooja would then play excellently at the Omega European Masters that summer. Samooja fired a third round 62 (−8) to get near the lead. During the final round he fired a 67 to tie several players at the end of regulation. The five-way playoff included: Rory McIlroy, Sebastian Söderberg, Samooja, Lorenzo Gagli, and Andrés Romero. Samooja had the closest approach to the hole, to five feet. Söderberg made an eight-foot birdie putt and the other competitors missed. Samooja, putting last, would "miss narrowly" assuring Söderberg's victory.
Samooja would have one more top-10 during the season, a T-10 at the Nedbank Golf Challenge. These three top-10s helped him finish 62nd on the Order of Merit and thereby keep his card.
In June 2022, Samooja won the Porsche European Open shooting a final-round 64 (−8) to claim his first European Tour victory.
In December 2023, Samooja entered the LIV Golf Promotions event, vying for one of three places in the 2024 LIV Golf League. He recorded rounds of 65 and 71 on the final day to top the event, successfully earning status for the 2024 season. He joined Martin Kaymer's Cleeks GC team but only managed two points scoring finishes during the season to finish in the relegation zone and lose his place on the league. Prior to the start of the 2025 LIV Golf League, it was announced that he would be one of the reserves for the season.
Amateur wins 2009 French International Amateur Championship
Professional wins (12) European Tour wins (1) No.DateTournamentWinning scoreMargin ofvictoryRunner-up15 Jun 2022Porsche European Open−6 (72-72-74-64=282)2 strokes Wil Besseling
European Tour playoff record (0–2) No.YearTournamentOpponent(s)Result12019Omega European Masters Lorenzo Gagli, Rory McIlroy, Andrés Romero, Sebastian SöderbergSöderberg won with birdie on first extra hole22020Aphrodite Hills Cyprus Open Callum ShinkwinLost to birdie on first extra hole
Challenge Tour wins (1) No.DateTournamentWinning scoreMargin ofvictoryRunner-up114 Oct 2018Hainan Open1−15 (65-66-71-71=273)2 strokes Grant Forrest 1Co-sanctioned by the China Tour
Nordic Golf League wins (2) No.DateTournamentWinning scoreMargin ofvictoryRunner-up121 Sep 2008FGT Final(as an amateur)−3 (72-73-68=213)1 stroke Pasi Purhonen223 Mar 2014La Manga Club Championship−12 (69-66-68=203)2 strokes Jacob Glennemo
Finnish Tour wins (8) No.DateTournamentWinning scoreMargin ofvictoryRunner(s)-up113 Aug 2006SM Reikäpeli(as an amateur)20 holes Tommy Gulin229 Jul 2007SM Reikäpeli (2)(as an amateur)2 and 1 Pertti Palosuo34 Jun 2011Finnish Tour OpeningE (69-76-71=216)1 stroke Joonas Granberg411 Jun 2011Finnish Tour St. Laurence−9 (70-66-71=207)1 stroke Joonas Granberg59 Jun 2012Finnish Tour St. Laurence (2)−15 (65-67-69=201)7 strokes Teemu Bakker (a), Ossi Mikkola631 May 2013Finnish Tour St. Laurence (3)−8 (72-67-69=208)1 stroke Jaakko Mäkitalo, Lauri Ruuska (a)718 Jun 2016Audi Finnish Tour 4−6 (71-69-70=210)6 strokes Otto Vanhatalo (a)815 Sep 2016Audi Finnish Tour Final−14 (67-71-64=202)5 strokes Matti Meriläinen
Results in major championships Tournament202120222023Masters TournamentPGA ChampionshipCUTU.S. OpenCUTThe Open ChampionshipCUT
CUT = missed the half-way cut
Team appearances Amateur European Boys' Team Championship (representing Finland): 2005, 2006 European Amateur Team Championship (representing Finland): 2008, 2009, 2010 Eisenhower Trophy (representing Finland): 2010 St Andrews Trophy (representing Continent of Europe): 2010 (winners)
See also 2018 Challenge Tour graduates
References
External links