The PGA Tour will no longer hold tournaments in Hawai‘i.
On Monday, the world's leading golf organization announced it was relocating The Sentry away from Maui's Kapalua Plantation Course. From 1999 to 2013, as well as from 2024 to 2025, the PGA Tour would begin its season in the Valley Isle.
Prior to what would have been the 2026 Sentry, the PGA Tour announced it would not hold the tournament due to water issues on the course on Maui months in advance.
Despite the absence of The Sentry in 2026, the PGA Tour still began its season in Hawai‘i with the Sony Open at Waialae Country Club from Jan. 15-18, won by Chris Gotterup.
During its announcement on Monday, the PGA Tour said it was planning to transition the Sony Open from a PGA Tour to a PGA Champions Tour event. The PGA Champions Tour is reserved for golfers 50 and over, whereas the regular PGA Tour is the organization's main division.
“We are grateful to The Plantation Course at Kapalua, Kapalua Resort, Maui County and the state of Hawaii for their longtime support of our season-opening PGA TOUR event, as well as the fans, partners and volunteers across Maui who have supported the event throughout the years,” the PGA Tour said in a statement.
The 2027 season will mark the first time in 56 years that a PGA Tour event has not been held in Hawai‘i. The Associated Press reported that it's possible The Sentry relocates to Torrey Pines in San Diego.
In response to the PGA Tour's removal of Maui, TY Management, which owns both golf courses at Kapalua, said in a statement provided to Aloha State Daily that it is working to address the water issues that caused the cancellation of the 2026 tournament.
"We feel a profound sadness that the PGA won’t be coming back to Kapalua Golf in 2027," general manager Kenji Yui said. "Since 1999 it’s been a fantastic partnership that included The Sentry sponsorship from 2018. This has always been a win-win-win for professional golf, the state of Hawai‘i, Maui County, local small businesses and the many nonprofits and junior golf associations that benefited from generous donations and volunteer opportunities during the tournament.
"This is one of the reasons why TY has proposed a solution to the water problems that led to this outcome -- a solution that will benefit the entire community, won’t ask taxpayers to foot the bill, and will result in a better water system for everyone, owned not by private business but by the public.”
"Now is the time to focus on the future of sports tourism in the islands. We need to unite the local golf community, hospitality industry and state and local leaders to ensure the state doesn’t lose visibility as a destination."
For the latest news of Hawai‘i, sign up here for our free Daily Edition newsletter.
Christian Shimabuku can be reached at christian@alohastatedaily.com.
