The PGA Tour cancels The Sentry 2026 due to ongoing drought and water shortages in Kapalua, starting the season in Hawaii with the Sony Open.
What has been a staple on the calendar for years will be absent in 2026: The PGA Tour has removed The Sentry at the Kapalua Resort from its schedule. The reasons lie literally in the ground – or more precisely: in the lack of water. The ongoing drought on Maui, combined with irrigation restrictions and numerous logistical challenges, led to the decision not to hold the tournament. This means the PGA Tour loses its traditional season opener on a course that has featured spectacular drives and stunning Pacific backdrops since 1999.
Water Shut Off – Course Conditions Not Suitable for the PGA Tour
By August 2025, it was already clear: The Plantation Course was facing serious problems. Water supply was nearly completely cut off, and both courses at Kapalua had to close. Even after some restrictions were eased, the limited supply was insufficient to restore the course to its usual condition. The PGA Tour sent its agronomy teams to assess the situation – but the verdict was clear: no tournament under these conditions. A replacement venue was considered, but transportation, infrastructure, and scheduling challenges quickly made this 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 moving the season start to February, focusing more attention and facing less competition from the NFL. Tiger Woods leads the commission working on proposals for a more modern structure. No decisions have been made yet.
Instead of The Sentry, the Sony Open in Honolulu will now serve as the season opener, beginning January 15 at the Waialae Country Club. For the PGA Tour, this is more than a minor schedule shift, as The Sentry long marked the start of the year where the previous year’s winner and top-50 players greeted the new season in a relaxed setting. Now, the season kicks off directly with a full field. Whether and when The Sentry will return remains open – but one thing is certain: 2026 will be quiet in Kapalua.