PGA Tour Ends 56-Year Hawaii Run, Moving The Sentry from Kapalua in 2027
The PGA Tour is leaving Hawaii behind in 2027, ending a 56-year run as it reshapes its schedule. For the first time since 1971, the tour won’t kick off its season in the middle of the Pacific Ocean.
Two staff members at Kapalua’s Plantation course, which is operated by Troon Golf, have already been notified about the decision. The PGA Tour confirmed this when contacted by The Associated Press.
The Sentry tournament at Kapalua had been plagued with challenges recently. It was canceled last January when drought conditions on Maui left the grass on the Plantation course dying due to water restrictions. Those restrictions stemmed from a dispute with the company managing a century-old water delivery system.
Meanwhile, the Sony Open on Oahu is in its final year of sponsorship. The tournament had benefited from being scheduled the week after Kapalua since 1999, helping attract players for a convenient two-week Hawaiian stay. Now, Sony is working toward becoming a PGA Tour Champions event that would pair with the Mitsubishi Electric Championship on the Big Island.
“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 tour said in a statement.
The tour plans to share more details about the 2027 schedule later and confirmed it’s in conversations with the Sony Open about joining the Champions tour.
Kapalua has been a fixture on the tour since 1999, when it debuted as a winners-only start to the season. Players have long enjoyed its wide fairways and stunning ocean views on Maui’s west end. Sentry Insurance, based in Wisconsin, took over as title sponsor in 2018 with a commitment extending through 2035.
The most likely landing spot for The Sentry is Torrey Pines in San Diego, where several Sentry executives attended this year’s tournament. Torrey’s previous sponsorship with Farmers Insurance ended this year without renewal.
Stephanie Smith, Sentry’s chief marketing and brand officer, didn’t mention future plans but emphasized the company’s connection to Maui: “We have said from the beginning, we love Maui and Maui is a Sentry community not unlike our hometown of Stevens Point, Wisconsin. We cherish the friends and partnerships we have formed over the past several years. Our commitment to the island runs deep, and we remain committed to being active in the community.”
Hideki Matsuyama was the last champion at Kapalua, finishing with an 8-foot birdie putt that set the PGA Tour record for score to par at an impressive 35 under.
The tournament had become increasingly expensive to operate. The tour had been subsidizing the purse increase to $20 million when it became a signature event, and The Sentry was among the most expensive operations because of shipping so much equipment to Maui. Attendance numbers were moderate at best.
Behind the scenes, water issues complicated matters. The dispute involved accusations from Kapalua owner Tadashi Yanai, homeowners, and Hua Momona Farms that Maui Land & Pineapple hadn’t maintained the water delivery system. MLP then filed a countersuit alleging Kapalua was violating water restrictions.
The Sony Open, which dates back to 1965 and has run continuously since 1971, took over as this year’s season opener when The Sentry was canceled. Chris Gotterup claimed the victory at Waialae Country Club in Honolulu.
The tournament has its own rich history. Its most famous moment came in 1983 when Isao Aoki holed out from the fairway for eagle to win. In 2003, Ernie Els became the first player to sweep both Hawaii events, winning at both Kapalua and Waialae.
