The PGA Tour announced Wednesday that The Sentry, its traditional season-opening tournament in Maui, won’t be played in 2026.
The Tour revealed last month that ongoing drought conditions and legal complications had made the Plantation Course at Kapalua unable to host the event, which features tournament winners and the top 50 players from the previous season’s FedExCup points list.
Despite speculation about possibly relocating to another Hawaiian course or somewhere on the mainland, “logistical challenges” ultimately made that impossible. These included shipping deadlines, tournament infrastructure requirements, and vendor support issues.
“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,” said Tyler Dennis, the Tour’s chief competitions officer. “While it’s unfortunate to arrive at this decision, we are appreciative of the collaboration and dedication from Sentry Insurance, a tremendous partner of ours.”
The 2026 Tour season will now begin January 15-18 at the Sony Open in Honolulu. The PGA Tour Champions is also scheduled to start its season in Hawaii on the Big Island January 22-24.
“We are appreciative of the PGA Tour’s thorough effort and communication throughout this process,” said Hawaii Governor 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 Hawaii and with the PGA Tour Champions event at Hualalai.”
Players who qualify for The Sentry via a 2025 victory but don’t finish inside the top 50 on the points list will be added to the RBC Heritage field in April. The Heritage is also a signature event, ensuring those players don’t lose access to an elevated tournament.
Sentry has been the title sponsor of the annual opener since 2018. The company’s chief marketing and brand officer, Stephanie Smith, emphasized 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.”
