Gainey in mix at Disney, wants Masters invite

• By Jason Sobel
• Nov 8, 2012 2:11 PM ET

LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. – Now that Tommy Gainey has a PGA Tour victory, he’s looking for one for each glove.

In his first start since posting a final-round 60 to win The McGladrey Classic, the man nicknamed Two Gloves opened with a 7-under 65 on the Palm Course at the Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals Classic.

“I’m past that now,” he said of the victory. “You know, I won two weeks ago at McGladrey and I’m very pleased to have won that tournament, but I’m playing Disney now, so I’ve got to focus on this tournament. It’s easy to reminisce over what’s been going on and stuff, but I’ve got a tournament to play in and I got off to a great start, so I’ve got to focus on maybe trying to win another tournament this week.”

Gainey certainly doesn’t lack for motivation. One reason is that his win didn’t come with a Masters invitation for next year, something he’s still trying to accomplish through world ranking status or other means.

“My goal has not been achieved yet,” he explained. “That is to get to Augusta. When I’m playing in Augusta, that means I’m playing in the other majors. So that’s my goal.”

A move into the top 30 on the season-ending money list would get him to Magnolia Lane, but this week's first-place prize ($846,000) isn't enough to make it. Gainey is 56^th on the PGA Tour money list with $1,524,703 in earnings. He’s $959,392 short of making the top 30 in money.

While Gainey can’t get to Augusta National next spring winning this week, he can still get there winning a staple event on the FedEx Cup schedule before The Masters next year. He can also get there cracking the top 50 in the world rankings at this year’s end or cracking the top 50 the week before the Masters.

The silver lining? A win this week would get him into next year's U.S. Open.

With his victory at the McGladrey Classic, Gainey moved to No. 128 in the world rankings.

GolfChannel.com senior writer Randall Mell contributed to this article.