Hawaii’s Sentry Tournament of Champions and Sony Open will not be part of the PGA Tour calendar in 2027.
For the first time in 56 years, the PGA Tour will not be visiting Hawaii in 2027 as it transitions to a revised schedule that will no longer commence the season in the Pacific region.
The Sentry was canceled last January due to drought conditions on Maui, which caused the grass on the Plantation course at Kapalua to deteriorate amid restrictions stemming from a dispute with the entity responsible for a century-old water delivery system.
On Monday, two staff members at Kapalua, managed by Troon Golf, were informed of the decision not to return.
The PGA Tour confirmed this information when reached by ESPN.
The Sony Open on Oahu is in its final year of sponsorship. Since 1999, it has relied on its scheduling right after Kapalua to attract players for a two-week stay in Hawaii.
The Sony Open is aiming to become the opening event for the PGA Tour Champions season, to be paired with the Mitsubishi Electric Championship on the Big Island.
“We appreciate The Plantation Course at Kapalua, Kapalua Resort, Maui County, and the state of Hawaii for their longstanding support of our season-opening PGA Tour event, as well as the fans, partners, and volunteers across Maui who have backed the event over the years,” the tour stated.
Further details regarding the 2027 schedule will be shared at a later time.
Kapalua began as a winners-only event to kick off the PGA Tour season in 1999, favored by players for its spacious fairways and breathtaking ocean views on the western side of Maui.
Sentry, based in Wisconsin, became the title sponsor in 2018, with its latest extension lasting through 2035.
The most probable new location for Sentry is Torrey Pines in San Diego, where several executives were present this year. The previous sponsorship with Farmers Insurance at Torrey Pines concluded this year without plans for renewal.
Stephanie Smith, the company’s chief marketing and brand officer overseeing the golf partnership, did not disclose future plans but expressed pride in Sentry’s eight-year tenure at Kapalua.
“From the outset, we have expressed our love for Maui, which is a Sentry community similar to our hometown of Stevens Point, Wisconsin,” she stated. “We value the friendships and partnerships we have developed over the years. Our dedication to the island is profound, and we remain committed to being engaged in the community.”
Hideki Matsuyama was the last champion at Kapalua, with the final stroke being an 8-foot birdie putt that established the PGA Tour record for score to par at 35 under.
The tour had been subsidizing the purse increase to $20 million when it became a signature event, and The Sentry was one of the most costly operations due to the logistics of transporting extensive equipment to Maui. Attendance was moderate at best.
The water dispute involved allegations from the Kapalua owner, Japanese billionaire Tadashi Yanai, homeowners, and Hua Momona Farms that Maui Land & Pineapple had failed to maintain the water delivery system.
MLP subsequently filed a countersuit, claiming that Kapalua was breaching water restrictions.
The Sony Open dates back to 1965 and has been held continuously since 1971 at Waialae Country Club in Honolulu, situated along the ocean near Diamond Head. It took over as the season opener this year following the cancellation of The Sentry, with Chris Gotterup as the winner.
A notable moment in the tournament’s history occurred in 1983 when Isao Aoki made an eagle from the fairway to secure victory. In 2003, Ernie Els became the first player to sweep the tour’s Hawaii events by winning at both Kapalua and Waialae.
Information from The Associated Press was utilized in this report.
