The PGA Tour cancels The Sentry 2026 due to ongoing drought and water shortage in Kapalua, starting the new season in Hawaii with the Sony Open.
What has been a fixed part of the calendar for years will be missing 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 hurdles, led to the decision not to hold the tournament. This means the PGA Tour loses its usual season opener at a course known since 1999 for spectacular drives and stunning Pacific backdrops.
Water Cut Off – Course Conditions Unsuitable for the PGA Tour
By August 2025 it was clear: the Plantation Course faced serious challenges. Water supply was almost completely halted, forcing closure of both courses at Kapalua. Even after partial easing of restrictions, water amounts remained too limited to restore the course to its usual condition. The PGA Tour sent its agronomy teams to assess the situation—the verdict was clear: no tournament start under these conditions. A replacement venue was considered, but transportation, infrastructure, and scheduling issues quickly made this unrealistic.
What’s Next for the Season Opener?
It remains uncertain whether The Sentry will return in 2027. Behind the scenes, the PGA Tour is working on a revised schedule. Among other ideas is shifting the season start to February, aiming for more focus and less competition from the NFL. Tiger Woods heads the committee developing proposals for a more modern structure, though no decisions have been made yet.
Instead of The Sentry, the Sony Open in Honolulu will now open the season, beginning January 15 at 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 the previous year’s winner and top-50 players welcomed the new year in a relaxed atmosphere. Now, the season will start immediately with a full field. Whether and when The Sentry returns is still open—but one thing is certain: 2026 will be quiet in Kapalua.