PGA Tour Cancels Sentry; 2026 Season in Disarray

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Key Highlights:

  • Season Opener Canceled: The PGA Tour has officially canceled The Sentry, its 2026 season-opening tournament, for the first time since the COVID-19 pandemic.
  • Water Crisis at Fault: The decision stems from a severe water crisis on Maui, which has rendered the iconic Kapalua Plantation course unplayable due to a legal dispute over water rights.
  • Historic Schedule Shift: As a result, the Sony Open in Honolulu will now kick off the season from Jan. 15-18, marking the latest start to a PGA Tour year since 1969.
  • Uncertain Future: The long-term status of The Sentry at Kapalua remains in doubt, pending the resolution of legal battles and potential changes to the tour schedule.

PGA Tour Scraps 2026 Season Opener

In an unprecedented move outside of a global pandemic, the PGA Tour has canceled its traditional season opener, The Sentry at Kapalua. The decision sends ripples through the golf world, elevating the Sony Open in Honolulu to the first tournament of the 2026 season and creating the latest start to a tour year in over five decades.

The cancellation was not a choice made lightly. Both the PGA Tour and title sponsor Sentry Insurance explored relocating the $20 million signature event but ultimately decided against it to protect the tournament’s prestigious identity.

A Jewel Tarnished by Water Woes

The core of the issue lies in a devastating drought and a complex legal battle on Maui. Kapalua’s two courses, including the world-renowned Plantation course, were forced to close after severe water restrictions were imposed. This is a direct consequence of an ongoing dispute between the course’s owner and Maui Land & Pineapple over the maintenance of a century-old water delivery system.

Stephanie Smith, chief marketing and brand officer at Sentry, explained the difficult decision. “I am really proud of what The Sentry has become; I didn’t want ’26 to be any less,” she stated. “We didn’t want it to be just, ‘Find a place for it in the schedule.’ I wanted Sentry to remain the jewel that it is.”

Ripple Effects Across the Tour

The schedule disruption has immediate consequences. With The Sentry off the table, the Sony Open now carries the weight of opening the season, though its own future is clouded as its title sponsorship is in its final year.

The tour has also made accommodations for the players left in the lurch. Seven PGA Tour winners who qualified for The Sentry but did not finish in the FedEx Cup top 50 will be granted spots in the RBC Heritage at Hilton Head, ensuring they don’t lose a valuable playing opportunity.

An Uncertain Future in Paradise

While Kapalua has announced a promotional reopening of the Plantation course in November, the long-term outlook for The Sentry’s return to Maui is murky. The ongoing lawsuits and water issues cast a long shadow over the event’s 2027 prospects. “It’s hard to say at this point,” Smith admitted when asked about the tournament’s future on the island.

This uncertainty comes as the PGA Tour braces for significant changes, with a “Futures Competition Committee” led by Tiger Woods set to reshape the tour’s schedule. For now, the golf community watches and waits, hoping this jewel of a tournament can find its way back to its Hawaiian home.