For the past 2.5 decades, it was a no-brainer for the first PGA Tour event to tee off at the Kapalua Resort in Maui, Hawaii. The Sentry had records, unforgettable moments, and whatnot, but now it seems the journey is coming to an end with the latest update of the PGA Tour. According to the recent update by Alex Nakajima, the general manager of Kapalua Golf and Tennis, “The golf course has been damaged with no water for months. I proposed to the owner that we need to shut the golf course to increase our chances of saving the golf course and the tournament.” This has led to a change taht has been historical to the tour and the sport.
The PGA Tour has recently announced that, with the ongoing drought conditions and similar challenges on the island of Maui, the tournament will not be contested at The Plantation Course at Kapalua. The Tour shared about it in an statement that, “Following discussions with the Governor’s office, as well as leadership from Sentry Insurance, Kapalua Resort and Maui County, the PGA TOUR has determined the 2026 playing of The Sentry will not be contested at The Plantation Course at Kapalua due to ongoing drought conditions, water conservation requirements, agronomic conditions and logistical challenges.”
Surprisingly, there is no confirmation of the event’s new venue as of now. Further updates will be shared by the tour soon. Before the decision was taken, Brian Rolapp and Hawaii Governor Josh Green, M.D., met virtually and discussed the possible outcomes. The decision was made considering the looming infrastructure standards, as well as the island’s remote location and the impact of drought, to meet shipping and vendor deadlines.
But now, the event, which has been teeing off at The Plantation Course since 1999, will either look for an alternate venue or might take a break from the PGA Tour schedule. Apparently, the move, which was tough for the tour, has left the fans and players in distress. As the PGA Tour on X shared the update, a massive wave of fans emerged to oppose the action and were looking for an alternative to keep the legacy of The Sentry as the season starter alive.
Michael Kim sadly wrote about the update, “🥲 Was really looking forward to going back next yr. Hopefully the tour can find somewhere soon, and on the west coast, so I can also play Sony.” The Sentry, being a signature event, only invited the top-50 players on the OWGR and the past season’s winner to participate. At first, With T2 at the WM Phoenix Open, Kim was close to being part of the event, but with no victory and 64th position on the OWGR, he will have to wait for it. However, he has also shared about the connection with the Sony Open, which tees off on the native island of Hawaii, where Kim has been participating. He shared his eagerness to be a part of it in 2027.
However, with just a few months until the 2026 schedule, possible alt4ernates will need to be scoured to avoid cancellation of the tournament even.
Fans are stressed with the latest PGA Tour update
Following him, a fan wrote, “Nothing like Maui. 🌺 Played it a couple of weeks ago, right before they closed it, and it was in bad shape.” The course hasn’t received water since July 25 and has been struggling to maintain the course. In fact, with the limited resources, the General Manager, Alex Nakajima, has shared about the deteriorating condition of the course. In the recent photos, the grass can be seen turning yellow and brown, which used to be a lush green course.
More fans joined, suggesting an alternative, “Bummer, Kapalua’s vibes will be missed!” and “Sad, look forward to watching a small field in paradise every year😔 Perhaps a return to @OmniHotels La Costa for 1 year?!” After the sad news for fans, they are suggesting an alternative to host the season opener on some other course. The La Costa course, situated in California, hosts the NCAA Men’s and Women’s Division I Golf Championship. The venue can work as a possible alternative given the same seaside atmosphere in San Diego, although the course is not against the backdrop of the blue sea as Kapalua.
Another wrote, “That SUCKS. Such a good event and for the island of Maui.” The tournament, in addition to being a signature event, has also benefited the Maui community. Since its inception in 1999, the tournament has raised over $9.7 million for critical community requirements like youth programs, health services, education, and environmental conservation.
However, some brought some humor into the mix, as one fancommented, “Hideki cooked too hard.” The winner of the 2025 edition of the event, Hideki Matsuyama not only won his 11th PGA Tour victory but also shot the lowest 72-hole par-to-score in the history of the Tour.
But despite all the efforts, the event has come to a halt due to unforeseen drought conditions at the course. Do you think the course can be added back to the schedule? Share your thoughts with us in the comments below.