The PGA Tour cancels The Sentry in 2026 due to persistent drought and water shortages in Kapalua, starting the season with the Sony Open in Hawaii.
What has been a fixed part of the calendar for years will disappear in 2026: the PGA Tour has removed The Sentry at Kapalua Resort from the schedule. The reasons lie literally in the ground – or more precisely: in the lack of water. The ongoing drought on Maui, along with irrigation restrictions and numerous logistical challenges, led to the decision not to hold the tournament. This means the PGA Tour will lose its usual season opener on a course that has featured spectacular drives and breathtaking Pacific backdrops since 1999.
Water Shut Off – Course Conditions Not Suitable for PGA Tour
By August 2025 it was already clear: the Plantation Course was facing serious problems. Water supply was almost completely stopped, forcing the closure of both courses in Kapalua. Even after partial easing of restrictions, water amounts remained so limited that the course could not be restored to its usual condition. The PGA Tour sent its agronomy teams to assess – but the verdict was clear: no tournament start under these conditions. A replacement venue was considered, but transport, infrastructure, and scheduling made the idea quickly unrealistic.
What’s Next for the Season Opener?
Whether The Sentry will return to the calendar in 2027 remains uncertain. Behind the scenes, work is underway on a new PGA Tour schedule. Among the ideas is shifting the season start to February – with more focus and less competition from the NFL. Tiger Woods leads the commission developing proposals for a more modern structure of the Tour. Nothing has been decided yet.
Instead of The Sentry, the Sony Open in Honolulu will now take the opening role, played from January 15 at Waialae Country Club. For the PGA Tour, this is more than a small calendar change, as The Sentry was for many years the tournament where the previous year’s winner and top 50 players kicked off the new year in a relaxed atmosphere. Now, the season begins directly with the first full field. Whether and when The Sentry returns remains open – but one thing is certain: 2026 will be quiet in Kapalua.