’10 times harder than when I came on’: experienced professional selflessly gives up a place in the season opener

Tommy “Two Gloves” Gainey has seen it all during his long career in professional golf. The Tour veteran has won on the Korn Ferry Tour, PGA Tour and the PGA Tour Champions. Thanks to a previous win at Korn Ferry, Gainey is eligible to play in the season-opening event next week in the Bahamas.

But he won’t play.

According to one report from Monday Q InfoGainey, now 50, decided to give up his spot in the event to give a younger pro a chance to make a career.

Here’s what you need to know.

Tommy Gainey’s unique path to golf stardom

Gainey became a household name in golfing households long before he appeared on the PGA Tour. He originally got his big break on Golf Channel’s old show “Big Break” (which returns in 2026). He debuted on the show in 2005 and went on to win the 2007 season.

Over the next few years, he alternated between the Korn Ferry Tour (then known as the Nationwide Tour) and the PGA Tour, before scoring two national wins in 2010 to earn his full PGA Tour card.

He reached his PGA Tour peak in 2012, when he shot an incredible 60 in the final round to win the McGladrey Classic.

After years of on-course struggle and off-course controversy, Gainey returned to the winner’s circle at the Korn Ferry Tour’s 2020 Bahamas Great Exuma Classic. It was his third win on the tour and it gave Gainey exemption from the event through 2026.

But Gainey has plans to play another tour this year, which brings us to his selfless act.

Gainey gives up his spot in the season opener of the Korn Ferry Tour

The Korn Ferry Tour’s 2026 season kicks off next week with the 2026 Bahamas Golf Classic on Atlantis Paradise Island. It is the start of a years-long quest in which young professionals compete to be promoted to the PGA Tour.

Gainey is exempt thanks to his win at the event in 2020. But two things happened last season that changed Gainey’s future in professional golf.

First, he turned 50, making him eligible for the PGA Tour Champions. Second, he won.

After his birthday last summer, Gainey played nine PGA Tour Champions events. He earned a T5 in his first event, then triumphed at the Constellation Furyk & Friends tournament in October to earn his first victory on the senior circuit.

By the end of the year, Gainey had secured full eligibility for the PGA Tour Champions in 2026, making the Korn Ferry Tour much less attractive to the veteran. But it also meant his future wasn’t dependent on playing the Korn Ferry Tour.

So when it came time to commit to the Korn Ferry Tour season opener in the Bahamas, Gainey decided to postpone.

On Monday, Q Info got wind of Gainey’s classy move and called him for the full explanation.

“It’s 10 times harder than when I brought it up. I didn’t want to take a man’s place,” Gainey said Monday Q Info.

Korn Ferry Tour events get a big boost when big-name players like Gainey take the shot, so Gainey worried the tournament might make its decision the wrong way. So, as he told Q Info on Monday, he called the tournament director and explained: “I don’t want to disrespect the event.”

He added: “These young guys are so good that anyone can win, even the last man in the field.”

View the full message below.

So when the 2026 Bahamas Golf Classic kicks off next Thursday, Jan. 11, at the Ocean Club Golf Course at Atlantis, Gainey won’t be there. And a young professional who didn’t expect to be there gets the opportunity of a lifetime.

As for Gainey, he will likely take a few more weeks off to prepare for the PGA Tour Champions’ season-opening event, the 2026 Mitsubishi Electric Championship at Hualalai, which kicks off Jan. 22 in Hawaii.