Tommy Gainey has withdrawn from the Korn Ferry Tour season opener for selfless reasons.
The 2026 Korn Ferry Tour season opener will proceed without a former champion as Tommy Gainey has chosen not to participate in the Bahama Golf Classic to give younger players a chance to break through. The 50-year-old won the tournament in 2020 and was thus eligible to play until this year.
Tommy Gainey: ‘It’s Ten Times Harder Than in My Day’
Gainey joined the Korn Ferry Tour (then Nationwide Tour) in 2007, winning two events in 2010 to secure his full PGA Tour card. He quickly found success there and peaked in 2012 with a 60 in the final round to win the McGladrey Classic, his only PGA Tour victory.
After years of struggles on the course and controversies off it, Gainey returned to the winner’s circle at the Korn Ferry Tour 2020 Bahamas Great Exuma Classic. It was his third tour win, granting him an exemption to play in this tournament through 2026.
However, Gainey declined the invitation from tournament director Josh Franklin, preferring to allow young players to prove themselves on the Korn Ferry Tour and earn PGA Tour cards. He expressed his love for the event but acknowledged how difficult it is nowadays to qualify for the Korn Ferry Tour. Considering all the changes on the Korn Ferry and PGA Tours, he felt it was more important for someone who has worked their way up to benefit from the start eligibility.
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 anyone of them can win, even the last in the field.’
Champions Tour Victory Makes It Possible
Upon turning 50 in August, Gainey gained another pathway through the Champions Tour. Last year, he played nine events on the senior tour and won the Constellation Furyk & Friends tournament in October. His results earned him a full tour card for the Champions Tour this year, so he is no longer reliant on the Korn Ferry Tour.
Nonetheless, it is commendable that Gainey has passed up the chance to compete for the $1,000,000 prize money to give other players an 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…— Monday Q Info (@acaseofthegolf1) January 3,