This week's 10th annual Woodcreek Classic has served as a test run for Tommy "Two Gloves" Gainey.
The Bishopville native who won the 2012 McGlradrey Classic has been playing mostly on the Web.com Tour of late. But in April, Gainey was competing at the RBC Heritage on Hilton Head. He was rolling along at 4-under par when he injured his back on the back nine and had to withdraw.
The diagnosis - two herniated discs and two bulging discs. The good news is he did not need surgery, but it was still an intense rehabilitation effort that he undertook.
Wednesday's opening round at the Members Club at Woodcreek was his first competitive round and he says he will use this tournament as a test run to see if his back is ready for the rigors of 18 holes over four days.
If things go well, he plans on playing in a few PGA Tour events in the fall to get ready for the 2017 season.
Gainey did say he will not make the mistake of rushing back or ignoring his doct or his therapist's advice.
At 41, Two Gloves knows his recuperative powers aren't what they used to be, so extra care must be taken to insure he receives a clean bill of health.
So far, Gainey has done more than "knock the rust off" with this event. Tommy is currently tied for fourth. The tournament will conclude on Saturday at the Members Club at Woodcreek in Elgin.