Tommy Gainey has withdrawn from the Korn Ferry Tour opener for selfless reasons.
The 2026 Korn Ferry Tour’s opening tournament will take place without a former winner as Tommy Gainey has decided not to participate in the Bahamas Golf Classic. The 50-year-old, who won the event in 2020, was eligible to play until this year but chose to give younger players a chance to break through.
Tommy Gainey: ‘It’s Ten Times Harder Than in My Day’
Gainey joined the Korn Ferry Tour (formerly Nationwide Tour) in 2007 and won two tournaments in 2010 to earn his full PGA Tour card. He quickly found success and peaked in 2012 when he won the McGladrey Classic with a final round 60, marking his only PGA Tour victory.
After years of struggles on and off the course, Gainey returned to the winner’s circle at the 2020 Korn Ferry Tour Bahamas Great Exuma Classic. This was his third Korn Ferry Tour win, granting him an exemption to participate in this event through 2026.
However, Gainey declined this invitation from tournament director Josh Franklin, wishing instead to allow younger players the opportunity to prove themselves on the Korn Ferry Tour and advance to the PGA Tour. He expressed his love for the tournament and desire to play but recognized how difficult it has become to qualify nowadays. He emphasized that with all the changes in the Korn Ferry and PGA Tours, it is more important for those who have worked their way up to benefit from these exemptions.
He was quoted saying, ‘It’s ten times harder than in my day. I didn’t want to take anyone’s spot. These young players are so good that any one of them can win, even the last in the field.’
Victory on the Champions Tour Makes It Possible
After turning 50 in August, Gainey gained another pathway via the Champions Tour. He played nine senior tour events last year, winning the Constellation Furyk & Friends tournament in October. His performance earned him a full Champions Tour card for this year, removing his need to rely on the Korn Ferry Tour.
Nevertheless, it is commendable that Gainey is passing on a chance at $1,000,000 in prize money to give others a platform 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…