Tommy Gainey has withdrawn from the Korn Ferry Tour’s season opener for selfless reasons.
The 2026 Korn Ferry Tour season opener will take place without a former champion as Tommy Gainey has chosen not to participate in the Bahamas Great Exuma Classic, allowing younger players the opportunity to break through. The 50-year-old won the tournament in 2020 and was eligible to play until this year.
Tommy Gainey: \”It’s Ten Times Harder Than in My Day\”
Tommy 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 on the PGA Tour, reaching his peak in 2012 by winning the McGladrey Classic with a final round 60, 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, earning his third tour win and an exemption to participate in this event through 2026.
However, Gainey declined the invitation from tournament director Josh Franklin, stating he wanted younger players to have the chance to prove themselves on the Korn Ferry Tour and advance to the PGA Tour. He expressed his love for the tournament but acknowledged the increasing difficulty of qualifying for the Korn Ferry Tour today. Gainey emphasized the importance of those who have worked hard to earn their spot benefiting from the exemption.
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 player in the field.\”
Champions Tour Victory Opens New Doors
Upon turning 50 in August, Gainey gained the opportunity to compete on the Champions Tour, the senior circuit. He competed in nine events last year and won the Constellation Furyk & Friends tournament in October. His performance secured him a full tour card for the Champions Tour this year, making participation in the Korn Ferry Tour unnecessary.
Nevertheless, Gainey’s decision to forgo the $1,000,000 prize money in favor of giving other players a chance to establish themselves in professional golf is highly commendable.
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