Breaking News: The Future of a Beloved PGA Tour Event Hangs in the Balance—Will 2026 See Its Cancellation?
Golf enthusiasts, brace yourselves for a potential shake-up in the PGA Tour calendar! The iconic season-opening Sentry tournament, a staple in Hawaii since 1999, is facing an uncertain future. But here's where it gets controversial: could 2026 mark the first year in decades that this prestigious event doesn’t take place at all? Let’s dive into the details and explore why this situation is more complex than it seems.
The PGA Tour is scrambling to find a new home for the Sentry tournament, which traditionally kicks off the season at the Kapalua Resort’s Plantation Course on Maui. However, due to severe watering issues and an ongoing water dispute with local authorities, the event cannot be held there in 2026. And this is the part most people miss: with just over 85 days until the tournament’s scheduled start, time is running out to secure a suitable replacement venue.
Longtime golf analyst and Hawaii resident Mark Rolfing, a familiar voice on NBC and the Golf Channel, recently shared his candid thoughts on the Fried Egg Golf podcast. Rolfing, who has been closely associated with the tournament for years, believes the event is unlikely to happen in 2026. ‘I don’t think there is any scenario where the Sentry can be played in 2026,’ he stated. ‘The schedule is basically full, and there’s just no time for planning.’
Formerly known as the Tournament of Champions, this $20 million Signature event brings together PGA Tour winners from the previous year and the top 50 finishers in the FedEx Cup standings. Its absence would be a significant blow to the tour, sponsors, and fans alike. To put things in perspective, the PGA Tour has only canceled events in recent memory due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Even last year, when wildfires threatened the Genesis Invitational, the tour managed to relocate the event from Los Angeles to San Diego in less than a month.
But here’s the catch: early January is a notoriously challenging time to find a venue capable of hosting a PGA Tour event. Add to that the logistical hurdles, sponsorship commitments (Sentry is contracted as the title sponsor through 2035), and television rights, and you’ve got a recipe for a near-impossible task. The PGA Tour insists no final decision has been made, but Rolfing suggests the focus should shift to ensuring the event’s long-term viability in Hawaii, particularly for the 2027 season.
‘We need to start thinking about 2027 for the Sentry and the Sony Open,’ Rolfing explained. ‘Those two are joined at the hip, and we need to address the growing challenges that are complicating Hawaii’s ability to host these events.’ His comments highlight a broader trend: Hawaii has seen its number of professional golf tournaments shrink from over 10 to just four in recent years.
For now, the PGA Tour’s priority is to stage the tournament somewhere, if possible. The financial stakes are high, with significant sponsorship fees from Sony and television rights fees from the Golf Channel on the line. A cancellation would mean a substantial loss of revenue, making this a high-pressure situation for all involved.
Controversial Question: Is it time for the PGA Tour to reconsider its reliance on Hawaii as a host destination, or should efforts double down on resolving the state’s logistical and environmental challenges? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below. The future of this beloved event—and perhaps the broader landscape of professional golf—may depend on it.
