The PGA Tour cancels The Sentry 2026 due to ongoing drought and water shortages in Kapalua and will start the new season in Hawaii with the Sony Open.
After being a fixed part of the calendar for years, The Sentry will be removed from the PGA Tour schedule in 2026. The reasons lie literally in the ground—or more precisely: the lack of water. The ongoing drought on Maui, along with irrigation restrictions and numerous logistical hurdles, led to the decision not to hold the tournament. With this, the PGA Tour loses its usual season opener on a course famous since 1999 for spectacular drives and breathtaking Pacific backdrops.
Water Turned Off – Course Conditions Unsuitable for the PGA Tour
As early as August 2025, it was clear: the Plantation Course was facing serious issues. Water supply was almost completely cut off, and both courses in Kapalua had to close. Even after some easing of restrictions, the water volume remained so limited that the course could not be brought to its usual condition. The PGA Tour sent its agronomy teams to assess the situation—but the verdict was clear: no tournament start could happen under these conditions. A replacement venue was considered, but transport, infrastructure, and scheduling made the plan quickly unrealistic.
What’s Next for the Season Opener?
Whether The Sentry will return to the calendar in 2027 is still uncertain. Behind the scenes, a new PGA Tour schedule is being developed. Among the ideas is moving the season start to February, focusing more with less competition from the NFL. Tiger Woods leads the commission working on proposals for a more modern structure, but nothing has been decided yet.
Instead of The Sentry, the Sony Open in Honolulu will now take on the opening role. It will be played from January 15th at the Waialae Country Club. For the PGA Tour, this is more than a minor calendar change—The Sentry was for many years the tournament where defending champions and top-50 players would kick off the year in a relaxed atmosphere. Now the season begins directly with a full field. Whether and when The Sentry returns remains open—but one thing is certain: 2026 will be quiet in Kapalua.