Tommy Gainey wins first PGA Tour title in McGladrey Classic at Sea Island

Gainey became the fourth player this year to rally from at least seven shots behind in the final round to win on the PGA Tour. He made seven straight 3s on his way to a 29 on the back nine, and then had to wait more than two hours to see if Jim Furyk or anyone else could catch him. No-one came particularly close.

Tournament host and Ryder Cup captain Davis Love III drove into the water on the 16th and made double bogey. Furyk made a 12-foot par save on the 17th hole to stay one-shot behind, but he pushed his approach well right on the 18th and made his first bogey in 56 holes.

“It’s been a hard year for me and finally, we got it right,” Gainey said.

Gainey, a 37-year-old from South Carolina with a homemade swing who is known as “Two Gloves” for wearing black gloves on each hand, joined a long list of unlikely winners this year. He ended up with a one-shot victory over David Toms, who closed with a 63. Furyk finished alone in third after a 69.

Gainey’s final score was a 16-under 264 and earned him $720,000, along with a trip to Kapalua in January for the Tournament of Champions and a two-year exemption on the PGA Tour. England’s Greg Owen shot a closing 65 to finish five shots adrift.