The recent announcements of professional golf events exiting Hawai‘i unfortunately left us without a seat at the PGA table.
The operative word is unfortunate.
Aloha State Daily has documented, both journalistically and editorially, the demise of the Sentry Tournament of Champions at Kapalua on Maui. It seemed the decision to halt the play in 2026 was based on Valley Isle water issues. The lack of water caused the deterioration of the Kapalua golf course which rendered it unplayable. This was the official explanation from Tour officials in justifying the ending of the PGA Tournament of Champions which has led off the annual PGA season since 1999.
But was that the only reason?
Rumors and speculation surrounded the exit of the PGA Sony Open, played at Wai‘alae Country Club on O‘ahu, when the Sentry ended and Sony, the tournament sponsor, did not renew its commitment to continue before its current contract expired. There were no water issues for Waialae; no logistical issues. But there were issues with the PGA Tour itself.
This is despite the fact that PGA golf featuring The Sony Open (and other titles) was first played in 1965 and made Wai‘alae Country Club its official home since 1971. The Sony Open personified the tradition, history, longevity, and legacy that the game celebrates. After 56 years, it came to an abrupt and unceremonious end.
But why?
I believe Hawai‘i PGA golf is the victim of the reformation of the tour and the game itself.
A benchmark in this reformulation of the professional game can be found on a golf course in Arizona. Specifically, it can be found on the 16th hole of this Arizona golf course.
That course would be TPC Scottsdale and, yes, that would be Scottsdale, Arizona.
The tournament is the Phoenix Open, better known by the sponsor's name, The Waste Management.
How can this tournament lead to the most radical and unprecedented changes in professional golf?
The game of professional golf is like no other professional sporting endeavor. It's not about teams but individuals. There are no referees, only players are trusted to know and adhere to the rules and to self-report any infractions. There is an etiquette along with expected sportsmanship during and after play that differentiates the professional game from all others. These fundamentals are ideally emulated by amateurs and there's a level of conduct expected even during casual play.
Except on the 16th hole of TPC Scottsdale during the Waste Management tournament.
It's on this stadium par-3 where all conventions are gleefully thrown out the window. The seating layout creates a Thunderdome style battleground. When the gates open, fans will make a mad dash running to the 16th hole just to get a seat. It's here where you'll find more beer and beverage sales than you will anywhere else. Music blares and everybody is up and dancing or the unrecognizable equivalent. Yes, it's a party.
Most players accept it and join in. A few take a pass on the Waste Management because it's not their favorite brand of scotch. OK, we get it. But you'll have players who will chug a beer on the tee and take their shirts off if they birdie the hole. But the most raucous and exuberant moment is when a player hits a hole-in-one. Oh dear, hide the children. The stadium erupts in screams of joy, plastic beer cups (most are full) come raining down from the stands and the players are for that incredible moment worshipped and glorified by fans. It's incredible!
It was this event, this theater that was the catalyst in the creation of LIV Golf.
Led by PGA legend Greg Norman and PGA Hall of Famer Phil Mickelson and fueled by what was considered an endless supply of Saudi money, LIV Golf wanted to, literally, change the accepted concept of professional golf.
The changes seemed rudimentary, but they weren't. LIV is Roman Numeral for 54 which is the number of holes played in a round compared to 72 holes in a PGA tournament. Less demand on a player. Players could wear shorts during tournaments. Fan participation is encouraged, and music has a presence. There was no cut — meaning if you qualified to play then you'd get paid. And getting paid was huge.
In order to give instant credibility to LIV, Norman and others lured top PGA players with guaranteed contracts in the millions of dollars. And it worked. Stars such as John Rahm, Bryson DeChambeau, Brooks Koepka, Phil Mickelson (all PGA Major winners) and others. Rahm reportedly was signed to a $300 million contract in 2023 and has amassed $87 million in tournament winnings. Mickelson got a $200 million deal with Koepka reportedly getting a $130 million contract. Other name players took in millions, too.
In 2026, the death of LIV Golf was announced. World economic conditions forced the Saudis to stop the flow of billions of dollars to what had become a poor investment. LIV never caught on with fans domestically or internationally and as quickly as it began it was over. Thus, closing one of the most bizarre chapters in golf history.
But the influence of LIV on the PGA Tour was unmistakable and leads us to the demise of PGA Golf in Hawai‘i.
During the tumultuous and controversial days of LIV, the PGA Tour had to figure out a way to stop the encroachment. This led to unprecedented financial review and overhaul of tournament play and purses. It was clear the PGA Tour had to take care of loyal members who did not defect to LIV but players were concerned with the tour business model that affected their earnings.
So, the PGA Tour made some changes.
In 2023, the tour introduced designated events which became known as PGA Tour Signature events featuring limited top ranked players competing for dramatically higher purses. This, of course, was in direct response to LIV Golf money. There are also other significant incentives but suffice it to say this was a revolutionary change.
During this time there were debates among the PGA Tour elites of how to stop LIV, to never allow this to happen again and plot a course to strengthen and evolve the professional game for the future.
Fast forward to the present.
June 23, 2026. As ESPN has reported, "The PGA Tour has approved recommendations from the Future Competition Committee that will dramatically reshape the tour's competitive structure starting in 2028, the tour announced Tuesday. ... Among other changes, the tour's new model will include two separate series of tournaments — the PGA Tour Championship Series and PGA Tour Challenger Series — that will run concurrently during the season. The Challenger Series will be the primary pathway to the Championship Series, with golfers competing to advance to the top track, including in-season elevation with two victories.
"The PGA Tour hopes the sweeping changes will bring 'competitive clarity and heightened consequence' and 'deliver a stronger, more compelling experience for fans, players and partners.'"
And here it is.
The restructuring of the PGA Tour schedule and the two-tier model was the death knell for the Sentry on Maui and the Sony Open on O‘ahu.
The disparity of purses between the Championship tier and the Challenger tier is profound. Sponsors of Championship events are expected to pay a minimum of $20 million in prize money while purses on Challenger tier events are a minimum of $4 million. That 5X multiplier in funding disparity is obviously troubling for players and others.
Oh, and one of the provisions is there are no longer sponsor exemptions, meaning sponsors have no say in who they can invite to play. Naming players whom a sponsor believes is good for their business is no longer an option. The depth of name players in tournaments is compromised. If a name player is on the Challenger tour, he cannot play in a Championship tier event. And vice versa. So sponsors are in a "take it or leave it" situation.
You know why the Sentry left Maui? Because Farmers Insurance was a premier sponsor on the PGA Tour for decades. They looked around at changes and said, we're done. Sentry was installed as sponsor of the legendary event at Torrey Pines replacing Farmers Insurance.
My question.
What was really behind the water controversy at Kapalua? The course conditions recovered and, theoretically, the tournament didn't have to leave permanently. I submit the PGA Tour knew Farmers was departing, there was a need for a premium sponsor, and nobody was knocking the door down to step in. Let's end the Sentry on Maui and bring the sponsor back to the Mainland with a higher, well, everything. Again, this is not accusatory, but it is my speculative opinion.
The PGA Tour threw Hawai‘i a bone.
There remains a PGA Champions Tour event on the Big Island the first of each year.
The Mitsubishi Electric Championship at Hualālai features senior tour players who won major tournaments over the past five years and other tournament players who won over the past two years plus, yes, sponsor exemptions. It's a great tournament with a wonderful reputation among sponsors, players, fans, and the community.
I mentioned the PGA Tour threw Hawai‘i a bone.
Well, that's from their perspective.
My perspective is that it's a benefit for Hawai‘i given the loss of two PGA Tour events.
First of all, back-to-back images of beautiful Hawai‘i broadcast globally during what fr most people is winter is invaluable.
I am not certain of the dollar amount but revenue generation is important and appreciated.
Charitable impact to local communities will continue and regardless on the dollar amount it is also appreciated.
And finally.
Fans.
Those of us of a certain age, and there's a bunch of us, love senior players. To meet and greet and cheer on some of the legends we grew up with or who are contemporaries is exciting. Golf fans will love to see current senior players like Stewart Cink (the top senior player today), Berhard Langer, Padraig Harrington, Ernie Els and, hopefully, Freddy Couples.
And there is a full crop of current PGA Tour players who are turning 50 in the next few years which qualifies them for the PGA Champions tour. For example, a certain Eldrick "Tiger" Woods turned 50 earlier this year.
A wonderful future development would be the establishment of the LPGA Champions tour.
What a perfect match for Hawai‘i.
Rick Hamada can be reached at rickhamada@aol.com.
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