The PGA Tour cancels The Sentry 2026 due to ongoing drought and water shortage in Kapalua, starting the season in Hawaii with the Sony Open.
What has been a fixture on the calendar for years will be missing in 2026: the PGA Tour has removed The Sentry at the Kapalua Resort from the schedule. The reasons lie quite literally in the ground – more precisely: in 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. This means the PGA Tour loses its traditional season opener on a course that has provided spectacular drives and stunning Pacific backdrops since 1999.
Water Shut Off – Course Conditions Unfit for PGA Tour
As early as August 2025, it was clear: the Plantation Course was facing serious issues. Water supply was almost completely halted, forcing both courses in Kapalua to close. Even after partial easing of restrictions, the water amounts remained so limited that the course could not be restored to its usual condition. The PGA Tour sent their agronomy teams to inspect – but the verdict was clear: no tournament start under these circumstances. A replacement venue was considered, but transportation, infrastructure, and scheduling made the plan quickly unrealistic.
What’s Next for the Season Start?
Whether The Sentry will return to the calendar in 2027 remains uncertain. Behind the scenes, a new PGA Tour schedule is being worked out. Among other ideas is shifting the season start to February – with more focus and less competition from the NFL. Tiger Woods is leading the commission developing proposals for a more modern structure. Nothing has been decided yet.
Instead of The Sentry, the Sony Open in Honolulu will take over the opening role. It will be played from January 15 at the Waialae Country Club. For the PGA Tour, this is more than a minor calendar change, as The Sentry was for many years the tournament where last year’s winner and top-50 players kicked off the new year in a relaxed atmosphere. Now the season begins 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.