Following the relegation from LIV Golf, Jonas Maartensson, Cleeks GC General Manager, has expressed his eagerness to keep ties with Kalle Samooja despite the player's recent exclusion from the league. After the conclusion of the 2024 season in September, which also saw the demotion of Bubba Watson, Branden Grace, and siblings Scott and Kieran Vincent, Samooja found himself out of the elite line-up.
However, there lies an opportunity for a return through the LIV Promotions, where Samooja had previously triumphed at the kickoff event held in Abu Dhabi last year, securing his place in the previous season alongside another ousted pro, Kieran Vincent. Maartensson, while speaking to Mirror US, hailed Samooja as an asset, reflecting both his significance on team morale and his admirable character.
"First of all he is a fantastic person," Maartensson commended, adding, "We want him somehow to be connected to the Cleeks for as long as we can because he has been fantastic for team spirit and just a great guy."
With regard to Samooja's future choices, particularly about participating in the 72-hole qualifying round, Martensson said, "I would love to see him back with LIV, and I would love to see him back on the Cleeks. I don't know his exact plans but I would expect so."
Samooja, who played alongside captain Martin Kaymer and teammates Richard Bland and Adrian Meronk, was instrumental in securing the Cleeks' first ever LIV Golf title at LIV Houston in June this year. However, things didn't pan out as expected for the Finnish golfer.
Despite being extended an olive branch by the Cleeks, Samooja is not waiting for LIV Promotions and has his sights set on a return to the DP World Tour.
Before joining the LIV setup 11 months ago, Samooja played on the Wentworth-based circuit and boasts one win - the Porsche European Open champion in 2022. He's eager to return to the European Tour but will have to succeed at Qualifying School once again.
The former Cleeks star began his tournament with a two-under-par 69 on Friday at the gruelling six-round event in Spain. Of course, Samooja is no stranger to the tough task of Q-School, having earned his LIV spot via the same process last winter in the Middle East.
There is uncertainty surrounding what Samooja will do when it comes to the second edition of LIV Promotions next month, particularly given his plans to return to the DP World Tour. Hypothetically, if the Finn was to enter both Q-School events and triumph in both, he would still be able to play across two tours.
However, this would come with repercussions, as DP World Tour players are fined and suspended for participating in 'conflicting' LIV events.
