With a newfound perspective on both his career and life, Tommy Gainey has finally gotten his first ever win at a PGA Tour event during the 2012 McGladrey Classic. I wonder if he can pull another upset and win the Children's Miracle Network Hospitals Classic...
As this ongoing PGA Tour event signifies the end of the current season, it ironically represents the start of Gainey's "two-gloved" progress in his career and in his life as well. He's not just another funky golf swinger that's struggling to make a name for himself on the tour. He has become a formidable opponent and he's beginning to gain attention among his peers. Who can forget about all of his birdies dropping in to finish at 10-under-par 60?
In an interview with the press just before the event at Lake Buena Vista, Orlando, Florida, the unconventional swinger mentioned how his first PGA victory has changed his life.
"Winning the McGladrey was indeed the best thing that has happened to me," he explained. "Let's just say that a lot of players were coming up and saying congratulations and great playing. They know how difficult it is to win here and now I have finally won. It took a long time because I believed I played like 150 or something to finally get a single win. So it's really hard. And all of them saying well done, means a lot."
With that victory weeks behind him now, Gainey has set his sights on one goal - going to Augusta. The baseball-style golfer obviously doesn't lack motivation because his win did not include an invitation for next year's Masters, something he is still seeking to pursue through world rankings.
An inclusion in the top 30 season-ending money list will send him to Magnolia Lane; however this week's top prize ($846,000) is just not enough to really make it. He is currently ranked 56th in the money list with a recorded earnings of $1,524,703; he will need around $959,392 to be included in that list.
Even if Gainey won't be able to go to Augusta National riding on a win at this Disney-sponsored classic, he'll be able to get there by winning a staple tour event at the FedEx Cup right before the Masters next spring. He can also reach it if he cracks the top 50 in world rankings either at the end of the year or a week before the coveted Masters. Either way, a win this week would definitely guarantee him a spot in the U.S. Open next year.
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