PGA Tour Forced To Cancel The Sentry After Failing To Find Alternative Venue

The PGA Tour has cancelled the season opening event at The Sentry after failing to find an alternative venue with drought concerns at the regular Plantation Course host in Kapalua

The Sentry trophy pictured with the ocean in the background
(Image credit: Getty Images)
Paul Higham's avatar
By
published

The 2026 PGA Tour season opener has been cancelled after an alternative venue for The Sentry couldn't be found.

Drought and water conservation issues on the island of Maui meant the PGA Tour wanted to move the event, scheduled for 8-11 January, away from the usual host venue of the Plantation Course at Kapalua.

"After assessing alternate venues in Hawaii and beyond, the tour determined it would not be able to contest The Sentry in 2026 because of logistical challenges - including shipping deadlines, tournament infrastructure and vendor support," the PGA Tour said in a statement.

It's the first cancellation of a PGA Tour event since Covid times, but Sentry are hopeful the event will remain "a jewel in the PGA Tour schedule" according to it's chief marketing and brand officer and golf partnership officer Stephanie Smith.

"Sentry is committed to our long-term relationship with the Tour - which runs through 2035 - and The Sentry’s place as a prominent event," said Smith. "While 2026 will not turn out as we would have liked, we’re optimistic about the future.”

The Sentry was the traditional PGA Tour curtain raiser from 1986-2013 before the introduction of the wraparound season.

Hideki Matsuyama poses with The Sentry trophy after winning at Kapalua Resort's Plantation Course in 2025

2025 Sentry winner Hideki Matsuyama carded a PGA Tour 72-hole record of 35 under par

(Image credit: Getty Images)

It reverted to being the opening event of the season when the PGA Tour resumed a calendar year schedule in 2024, with Hideki Matsuyama the current champion after shooting a record 35 under par.

The Plantation Course in Kapalua has held the tournament since 1999, when it relocated from California.

The Sentry was a Signature Event for the 2026 season, and set to feature PGA Tour tournament winners from last season alongside the top 50 in the final FedEx Cup standings.

With the event cancelled, 2025 tournament winners who finished outside the top 50 will now get into the RBC Heritage in April as an alternate Signature Event.

Paul Higham
Paul Higham
Contributor

Paul Higham is a sports journalist with over 20 years of experience in covering most major sporting events for both Sky Sports and BBC Sport. He is currently freelance and covers the golf majors on the BBC Sport website.  Highlights over the years include covering that epic Monday finish in the Ryder Cup at Celtic Manor and watching Rory McIlroy produce one of the most dominant Major wins at the 2011 US Open at Congressional. He also writes betting previews and still feels strangely proud of backing Danny Willett when he won the Masters in 2016 - Willett also praised his putting stroke during a media event before the Open at Hoylake. Favourite interviews he's conducted have been with McIlroy, Paul McGinley, Thomas Bjorn, Rickie Fowler and the enigma that is Victor Dubuisson. A big fan of watching any golf from any tour, sadly he spends more time writing about golf than playing these days with two young children, and as a big fair weather golfer claims playing in shorts is worth at least five shots. Being from Liverpool he loves the likes of Hoylake, Birkdale and the stretch of tracks along England's Golf Coast, but would say his favourite courses played are Kingsbarns and Portrush. 

You must confirm your public display name before commenting

Please logout and then login again, you will then be prompted to enter your display name.