Tommy Gainey has withdrawn from the Korn Ferry Tour season opener for selfless reasons to give young players a chance.
The 2026 Korn Ferry Tour season opener will proceed without a former champion. Tommy Gainey, who won the tournament in 2020, has decided not to participate in the Bahama Golf Classic to allow younger players the opportunity to break through. The 50-year-old was eligible to play until this year due to his previous win.
Tommy Gainey: ‘It Is Ten Times Harder Than in My Time’
Tommy Gainey joined the Korn Ferry Tour (then the Nationwide Tour) in 2007 and won two events in 2010 to earn his full PGA Tour card. He quickly found success there, peaking in 2012. With a final round 60, he won the McGladrey Classic, his only PGA Tour victory.
After years of struggles on and off the course, Gainey returned to the winners’ circle at the Korn Ferry Tour 2020 Bahamas Great Exuma Classic. This was his third win on the tour, granting him an exemption to participate in the event through 2026.
However, Gainey declined the invitation from tournament director Josh Franklin. He expressed a desire to give younger players a chance to prove themselves on the Korn Ferry Tour and make it to the PGA Tour, and did not want to deny that opportunity to anyone. He said he loves the tournament and would like to play, but understands how difficult it is nowadays to qualify for the Korn Ferry Tour. Gainey added that with all the changes to the Korn Ferry and PGA Tours, it is more important that those who have worked their way up should benefit from the entry opportunities.
He was quoted saying, \”It is ten times harder than in my time. 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
When Gainey turned 50 in August, he gained another opportunity beyond the Korn Ferry Tour, the Champions Tour. He played in nine senior tour events last year and won the Constellation Furyk & Friends tournament in October. His results secured him a full tour card for the Champions Tour this year, so he no longer relies on the Korn Ferry Tour.
Nonetheless, it is commendable that Gainey is passing up the chance for a $1,000,000 prize purse to give other players a chance 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.
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