When the PGA Tour announced plans to hold The Sentry away from Maui's Kapalua Plantation Golf Course in January 2026 due to drought conditions that left the course unplayable, it was actively looking for alternate sites for the tournament, which traditionally kicks off the PGA season annually.
On Wednesday, the PGA Tour announced that it will cancel The Sentry for 2026, opening its season with the Sony Open at Wai‘alae Country Club from Jan. 15-18 instead.
“Since it first became a possibility that the PGA Tour would not be able to play at The Plantation Course at Kapalua due to the ongoing drought conditions on Maui, we worked closely with our partners at Sentry to assess options for contesting The Sentry in 2026,” PGA Tour chief competitions officer Tyler Dennis said in a statement. “While it is unfortunate to arrive at this decision, we are appreciative of the collaboration and dedication from Sentry Insurance, a tremendous partner of ours.”
The Sentry, held each year since 1999, annually involved the top 50 finishers of the previous year's FedEx Cup standings. The canceling of The Sentry is the first time a PGA Tour event has been called off since the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020.
Despite losing The Sentry in 2026, Hawai‘i will still host the Sony Open to begin the PGA Tour season. The following week, the PGA Tour Champions, the home of professional men's golfers aged 50 and older, will hold the Mitsubishi Electric Championship at Hualālai Golf Club on the Big Island.
“We are appreciative of the PGA Tour’s thorough effort and communication throughout this process,” said Hawai‘i Gov. Josh Green. “Though we’re disappointed The Sentry will not be contested in 2026, we are excited that the beauty and Aloha Spirit of the islands will be showcased to fans around the world at the Sony Open in Hawai’i and with the PGA TOUR Champions event at Hualālai. On behalf of our communities, we are grateful to Sentry Insurance for their continued support and partnership.”
Added Stephanie Smith, chief marketing and brand officer and chief golf partnership officer at Sentry: “The Sentry is a jewel in the PGA TOUR schedule. We were determined to find a way to play a signature level event in 2026 — one that honored the tournament’s tradition and provided the quality of competition that players and fans have come to expect. Despite the Tour’s best efforts, it became impossible to do that. Sentry is committed to our long-term relationship with the Tour — which runs through 2035 — and The Sentry’s place as a prominent event. While 2026 will not turn out as we would have liked, we’re optimistic about the future.”
Meanwhile, the Kapalua Plantation Course, which closed for 60 days on Sept. 2 in an attempt to prepare for The Sentry, will reopen on Nov. 10. The course's website is currently promoting a reopening rate of $399. The course states that it is currently "working to restore two greens," and if golfers are only able to play 16 holes, then a $50 shop credit will be given to players.
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Christian Shimabuku can be reached at christian@alohastatedaily.com.
