Samooja eyes second LIV Golf Promotions win to reclaim spot on 2025 roster

DOHA, Qatar - Kalle Samooja is setting a goal to bounce straight back onto the LIV Golf roster for the 2025 season at the forthcoming LIV Golf Promotions event in Saudi Arabia, and the Finnish golfer is limbering up nicely after a solid first round at International Series Qatar.

The 36-year-old won the LIV Golf Promotions event last season and was rewarded with a spot on Martin Kaymer’s Cleeks GC. Things didn’t quite go to plan, however, as he wound up in the Drop Zone after managing just two top-20 finishes during the season.

Samooja is tuning up for another shot at the big time in Riyadh from Dec. 12-14. Thanks to The International Series he has two ways to earn a return. He can either win the LIV Golf Promotions event or secure a place by winning The International Series rankings outright.

To do that, he needs big performances in Qatar this week and at next week’s season-ending PIF Saudi International powered by SoftBank Financial Advisers, which will give 1,000 rankings points to the winner.

Samooja started well in his mini-campaign with a solid 3-under 69 in the opening round at Doha Golf Club.

“My goal is to get back through the LIV Golf Promotions event again," Samooja said. "It meant a lot, but unfortunately, I didn't play my best this season. But yes, I think I have more to give, and hopefully I can get my card back somehow from the LIV Golf Promotions event again. ... Golf-wise the quality is great [on the LIV Golf League]. There are a lot of top-quality guys, and the courses are great.

“You can't really think ahead of your game. So the only thing we need is to get the job done and then enjoy the ride. That’s the best way to describe it.”

In 2024, Samooja played alongside two-time major champion Kaymer, two-time senior major winner Richard Bland and rising star Adrian Meronk from Poland.

“We had a fun team at Cleeks GC; we all got along very well," Samooja said. "So yes, I kind of feel sad to leave the team, but hopefully I get back somehow.”

Samooja, who became the sixth Finnish golfer to claim victory on the European Tour with his triumph at the 2022 Porsche European Open, reflected on his round and shared his enthusiasm for returning to Qatar for this week’s penultimate event on The International Series schedule.

“I've played three events on The International Series so far and they're good, good events," Samooja said. "I’ve played here quite a few times before, so it's nice to come back here.

“I'll take that score today although I was very bad off the tee. I don't know how many fairways I hit, maybe three or four. It's not a course you can play well from the rough so I’m kind of pleased with the score. I’ll need to do some work on the range this afternoon.”

International Series Qatar is the ninth of 10 events on this year’s schedule, offering 450 valuable points to the champion. For tickets and further information about International Series Qatar, please visit www.internationalseries.com.

(Photo by Ian Walton/Asian Tour)