Tommy Gainey has withdrawn from the Korn Ferry Tour season opener for selfless reasons, giving younger players a chance to compete.
The 2026 Korn Ferry Tour opening event will take place without a former champion participating. Tommy Gainey, who won the Bahama Golf Classic on the Korn Ferry Tour in 2020, has chosen not to participate to allow younger players the opportunity to break through. The 50-year-old was eligible to play until this year due to his past victory.
Tommy Gainey: ‘It’s Ten Times Harder Than in My Day’
Gainey joined the Korn Ferry Tour (then Nationwide Tour) in 2007 and secured his full PGA Tour card by winning two tournaments in 2010. He quickly found success on the PGA Tour, peaking in 2012 when he won the McGladrey Classic with a final round 60 for his sole PGA Tour victory.
After years of challenges on and off the course, Gainey returned to winning ways at the 2020 Bahamas Great Exuma Classic on the Korn Ferry Tour. This third tour win granted him an exemption to participate in the tournament through 2026.
However, Gainey declined this invitation, telling tournament director Josh Franklin that he wanted younger players to have a chance to prove themselves on the Korn Ferry Tour and earn their PGA Tour cards. He expressed his love for the tournament but acknowledged the increasing difficulty of qualifying for the Korn Ferry Tour nowadays. Given all the changes in the Korn Ferry and PGA Tours, he believes it’s more important for those who have worked their way up to benefit from eligibility.
He was quoted saying, “It’s ten times harder than in my day. I didn’t want to take the spot from anyone. These young players are so good that anyone can win, even the last player in the field.”
Victory on the Champions Tour Enables This Decision
Upon turning 50 in August, Gainey gained another pathway through the Champions Tour. He played nine senior events last year, winning 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 is foregoing a chance to compete for $1,000,000 in prize money to give other players an opportunity to establish themselves in professional golf.