LAHAINA, HI – JANUARY 07: A rainbow appears behind the tournament trophy on the first hole during the final round of the Sentry Tournament of Champions at Plantation Course at Kapalua on January 7, 2018 in Lahaina, Hawaii. (Photo by Stan Badz/PGA TOUR)
US PGA TOUR
After searching for a new site and plan for the 2026 Sentry Tournament of Champions, the event will not be played after all.
The PGA Tour announced on Tuesday that the Sentry Tournament of Champions, slated to be held January 5-11, has been cancelled due to the conditions of the Plantation Course at Kapalua. Instead, the Sony Open, played at the Waialae Country Club will be the season opening event for 2026, played January 12-18.
In September, the PGA Tour announced that they would not be playing the Sentry Tournament of Champions at Kapalua due to drought conditions that have caused severe damage to the golf course. In their decision, they cited “logistical challenges, including shipping deadlines, tournament infrastructure and vendor support” for not playing the tournament at an alternate site.
“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,” PGA TOUR Chief Competitions Officer Tyler Dennis said in a statement. “While it is unfortunate to arrive at this decision, we are appreciative of the collaboration and dedication from Sentry Insurance, a tremendous partner of ours.”
Hawaii governor Josh Green, issued a statement about the event being cancelled, saying “We are appreciative of the PGA TOUR’s thorough effort and communication throughout this process,” said Governor 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 Hawai’i and with the PGA TOUR Champions event at Hualālai. On behalf of our communities, we are grateful to Sentry Insurance for their continued support and partnership.”
For many years, the PGA Tour has kicked off its season at the Sentry Tournament of Champions. It was the home of the opening event from 1986-2013(Kapalua started hosting in 1999) and again became the starting event in 2024 as the PGA Tour returned to a calendar-year schedule. The field was set to include players who finished in the top 50 of the FedExCup standings during the 2025 season and any player who won a PGA Tour event in 2025. Players who would have played the event, but were out of the top 50 and not eligible for signature events will now be allowed to compete at the RBC Heritage in April at Harbour Town Golf Links, the week following the Masters.
HILTON HEAD ISLAND, SOUTH CAROLINA – APRIL 22: Scottie Scheffler of the United States hits his shot from the 18th tee during the continuation of the final round of the RBC Heritage at Harbour Town Golf Links on April 22, 2024 in Hilton Head Island, South Carolina. (Photo by Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images)
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The PGA Tour is hoping to get the Sentry Tournament of Champions back on the schedule in the future. Chief marketing and brand officer for the PGA Tour, Stephanie Smith stated, “The Sentry is a jewel in the PGA TOUR schedule, we were determined to find a way to play a signature level event in 2026 – one that honored the tournament’s tradition and provided the quality of competition that players and fans have come to expect. Despite the TOUR’s best efforts, it became impossible to do 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. While 2026 will not turn out as we would have liked, we’re optimistic about the future.”
Whether or not the PGA Tour will use the Plantation Course at Kapalua in the future remains to be seen, it is a positive that Sentry is committed to sponsoring an event wherever it may be played in the coming years.
Mike is a founding member of Break80 Golf and a contributing golf and sports writer for Forbes with PGA Tour and LIV Golf media credentials. He can be found on social media platforms @short_sided_golf
Source: https://www.forbes.com/sites/mikefore/2025/10/23/pga-tour-cancels-sentry-tournament-of-champions-for-2026/
