Tommy Gainey has withdrawn from the Korn Ferry Tour season opener for selfless reasons.
The 2026 Korn Ferry Tour season opener will take place without a former champion. Tommy Gainey, who won the 2020 Bahama Golf Classic, will not participate to give younger players a chance to break through. The 50-year-old was eligible to play due to his past victory until this year.
Tommy Gainey: \”It’s Ten Times Harder Than in My Time\”
Gainey joined the Korn Ferry Tour (then Nationwide Tour) in 2007 and secured his full PGA Tour card by winning two events in 2010. He quickly found success, peaking in 2012 with a final round 60 to win the McGladrey Classic – his only PGA Tour victory.
After years of struggles on and off the course, Gainey returned to the winner’s circle at the 2020 Bahamas Great Exuma Classic, earning his third Korn Ferry Tour title and exemption to the same event through 2026.
However, he declined this exemption, telling tournament director Josh Franklin that he wanted younger players to have the opportunity to prove themselves and advance to the PGA Tour, not wanting to take that chance away from anyone. Gainey expressed his love for the event but acknowledged how tough it is to qualify nowadays. He emphasized that given the changes in the Korn Ferry and PGA Tours, it is more important for a hard-working player to benefit from starting rights.
He was quoted saying, \”It’s ten times harder than in my time. I didn’t want to take a spot from anyone. These young players are so good that any of them can win, even the last one in the field.\”
Champions Tour Victory Opens New Doors
Upon turning 50 last August, Gainey gained access to the Champions Tour—another route beyond the Korn Ferry Tour. He competed in nine senior events last year, winning the Constellation Furyk & Friends tournament in October. His performance earned him a full card for the Champions Tour this year, so he no longer relies on the Korn Ferry Tour.
Nonetheless, it is commendable that Gainey is foregoing a chance at $1,000,000 in prize money to allow others 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…
— Monday Q Info (@acaseofthegolf1) January 3, 2026