PGA Tour winner Tommy “Two Gloves” Gainey was arrested last week and charged with soliciting a prostitute as part of a massive sting operation conducted by the Polk County (Florida) Sherrif’s Office.
The sting investigation, dubbed “Operation Santa’s Naughty List,” spanned six days and utilized undercover detectives posing as prostitutes to arrest 124 men.
Gainey, who won the 2012 McGladrey Classic, told investigators he was in town for a charity golf outing. According to jail records, Gainey was arrested on Sunday, December 8 and released after posting his $500 bail. He’s facing a first-degree misdemeanor solicitation charge.
He was caught on video, obtained by TMZ, offering an undercover detective $60 in exchange for a “quick visit.” He also told the undercover detective that he would be in town for the rest of the week. Gainey is in the field at Orange County National for the Final Stage of Korn Ferry Tour Qualifying School, which begins Thursday.
In a news conference on Wednesday morning, Polk County Sherriff Grady Judd said that police used online advertisements to arrange meetings with suspects before going through each arrested party.
When Judd came to Gainey, he explained that Gainey was married and also a professional golfer who was in town to play in a charity golf event on Monday.
“He missed his tee time” – Sheriff Grady Judd. Tommy Gainey, a PGA member arrested for solicitation of sex in Polk County. @abcactionnews @PGATOUR pic.twitter.com/MhDVdXOsdS
— Andrea Lyon ? (@andrealyonTV) December 11, 2019
“He was supposed to be in the next morning tee off,” Judd said. “He didn’t make it. He was a scratch. He missed his tee time the next morning.”
