Kalle Samooja
FIN
- Started playing golf at eight years old after being introduced to the game by his father
- Tried unsuccessfully to qualify for European Tour six times and instead played mostly on the Asian Tour
- Changed coaches in 2015, employing former player Mika Piltz, who helped him with a clear vision for progress; also worked hard on his fitness routine to improve as a player
- Won the 2018 Hainan Open on the Challenge Tour two weeks after the birth of his son
- In his rookie season on the European Tour in 2019, finished T2 after losing a five-man playoff at Omega European Masters en route to retaining his European Tour card; lost another playoff at 2020 Cyprus Open