Tommy Gainey has withdrawn from the Korn Ferry Tour season opener for selfless reasons.
The 2026 Korn Ferry Tour season opener will be held without a former champion as Tommy Gainey has decided not to participate in the Bahama Golf Classic of the Korn Ferry Tour, giving younger players a chance to break through. The 50-year-old won the tournament in 2020 and was eligible to play until this year.
Tommy Gainey: \”It’s Ten Times Harder Than In My Time\”
Tommy Gainey joined the Korn Ferry Tour (then Nationwide Tour) in 2007 and won two tournaments in 2010 to earn his full PGA Tour card. He quickly found success on the PGA Tour, peaking in 2012 by winning the McGladrey Classic with a final round 60, his only PGA Tour victory.
After years of struggles on and off the golf course, Gainey returned to the winners’ circle at the Korn Ferry Tour 2020 Bahamas Great Exuma Classic. That was his third win on the tour, which earned him an exemption to participate in this event until 2026.
However, Gainey declined the invitation from tournament director Josh Franklin because he wanted to give young players the opportunity to prove themselves on the Korn Ferry Tour and reach the PGA Tour. He expressed his love for the tournament and desire to play but acknowledged how difficult it is nowadays to qualify for the Korn Ferry Tour. He emphasized that with all the recent changes, it is more important for players who have worked their way up to benefit from the exemption.
He was quoted saying: \”It’s ten times harder than in my time. I didn’t want to take a spot away from anyone. These young players are so good that any one of them can win, even the last player in the field.\”
Victory on the Champions Tour Makes This Possible
After turning 50 in August, Gainey had another option besides the Korn Ferry Tour: the Champions Tour. He played nine senior tour events last year and won the Constellation Furyk & Friends event in October. His results earned him a full Champions Tour card for this year, so he no longer relies on the Korn Ferry Tour.
Still, it is commendable that Gainey is passing up the chance to compete for a $1,000,000 purse to allow other players the opportunity to establish themselves in professional golf.
Tommy Gainey was in the @BahamasKFTour next week as a past champion of the event. It’s his last year for his past champion exemption.
A friend of his called me and said he WD, so a young guy could get a start. So I called him.
Of course Tommy picked up. Said he loves the…