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The PGA Tour announced it will not hold an event in Hawaii during the 2027 season, ending a 56-year streak of hosting a tournament in the Aloha State. The change comes as the Tour and CEO Brian Rolapp have consistently announced a revamped calendar starting next year.
The Tour was forced to cancel The Sentry at the start of the 2026 campaign due to grass dying on the Plantation Course at Kapalua amid a local dispute with the company responsible for delivering water to the area.
An aerial view of the golf course from the ocean before The Sentry at Plantation Course at Kapalua on December 31, 2023 in Kapalua, Maui, Hawaii. (Photo by Ben Jared/PGA TOUR) (Ben Jared/PGA TOUR)
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With the cancellation of The Sentry, the Sony Open at Waialae Country on Oahu served as the Tour’s season opener in 26, which was won by Chris Gotterup. The event was in its final year of sponsorship, although the Tour said it was striving to make the event the opening event on the PGA Tour’s Champions Tour.
Chris Gotterup of the United States celebrates with the trophy on the 18th green after his winning round of the 2026 Sony Hawaii Open at Waialae Country Club on January 18, 2026 in Honolulu, Hawaii. (Photo by Cliff Hawkins/Getty Images) (Cliff Hawkins/Getty Images)
The Tour’s removal of the Sentry and Sony Open cancels what has now become a traditional two-week period on the island to begin a new season.
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The PGA Tour did not share further details about the 2027 schedule when announcing its departure from Hawaii, but since Sentry would be a title sponsor of the event through 2035, it will need to find a new landing spot on the schedule. The logical stop would be Torrey Pines in San Diego, which checks the West Coast and great weather boxes, but the venue is also looking for a new sponsor, as its deal with Farmers Insurance ended in 2026.
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The view of the 18th hole is seen during the final round of The Sentry at Plantation Course at Kapalua on January 5, 2025 in Kapalua, Maui, Hawaii. (Photo by Ben Jared/PGA TOUR via Getty Images) (Ben Jared/PGA TOUR via Getty Images)
The Tour’s decision not to start next season in Hawaii makes sense, as there are many venues in the lower 48 states that are much easier to operate, but the departure will have a huge financial impact on the state.
The Honolulu Star-Advertiser reports that The Sentry would have an annual impact of $50 million on the community, while the Sony Open directly generates about $100 million in revenue per year, plus an additional $1 million per year for Friends of Hawaii charities.
