Golf: Reprieve for American PGA golf champ caught in prostitution sting

Tommy Gainey ... stung. Photo / Photosport

A PGA golf champion who was caught in a prostitution sting is free to continue his comeback.

Tommy "Two Gloves" Gainey has won US$15m in a career which kicked off when he won the Golf Channel's Big Break show in 2005.

The 44-year-old family man was nabbed in Florida law enforcement's "Operation Santa's Naughty List" operation in December.

He was among 124 people arrested after he was captured on video with an undercover cop who he agreed to pay US$92 for sex.

Gainey, who is married with two young kids, faced a first-degree misdemeanour charge.

But he will attend a human trafficking class, do up to 100 hours of community service and pay about US$9000 in fees and fines in order to remain free to walk the fairways.

Gainey, who won the PGA's 2012 McGladrey Classic in Georgia, had a form dip and lost his tour card, moving onto the Korn Ferry Tour.

He recently had his first win on that tour, in the Bahamas, and referred to the prostitution arrest in his victory speech.

"With the injuries that I've been through, the other troubles that I've had … I'm very lucky and very blessed. This means everything," said Gainey, who is on 11 months of probation rather than jail time.

He also talked about getting his "life back on track" and said: "My wife, I love her to death. Her and the boys mean everything."