The PGA Tour will not hold tournaments in Hawaii in 2027 for the first time since 1971, removing both the Sentry Tournament of Champions and the Sony Open in Hawaii from its schedule.
The Sentry was canceled due to a water rights dispute on Maui
The Sentry Tournament of Champions at Kapalua was canceled last January after drought conditions and restrictions from a century-old water delivery system caused the grass on the Plantation course to die, leading to the event’s termination.
The Sony Open lost its sponsorship and seasonal positioning
The Sony Open on Oahu was in the final year of its sponsorship and had relied on being the week after Kapalua since 1999 to attract players for a two-week Hawaiian swing, a linkage now broken.
The Tour cites logistical and financial challenges in Hawaii
The PGA Tour said shipping equipment to Maui made the Sentry among its most expensive operations, even as it subsidized the purse increase to $20 million when the event became a signature competition, with attendance described as moderate at best.
Sentry may relocate to Torrey Pines in San Diego
Wisconsin-based Sentry Insurance, which has held the Kapalua title sponsorship since 2018 under a contract running through 2035, is likely to move the event to Torrey Pines in San Diego, where Farmers Insurance’s sponsorship ended this year without renewal plans.
The Sony Open may shift to PGA Tour Champions
The Sony Open is working to become the opening event of the PGA Tour Champions season, potentially packaged with the Mitsubishi Electric Championship on Hawaii’s Big Island.
Hideki Matsuyama holds the Kapalua scoring record
Hideki Matsuyama was the last winner at Kapalua, closing with an 8-foot birdie putt to set the PGA Tour record at 35 under par for a tournament.
What happens next for PGA Tour golf in Hawaii?
The Tour said it will share more details on the 2027 schedule later, leaving open whether future Hawaii events could return under different arrangements or sponsorships.
Why were both Hawaii events removed from the 2027 schedule?
<!– wp:paragraph />The Sentry was canceled due to a water rights dispute damaging the course, while the Sony Open lost its sponsorship and its traditional scheduling advantage as the week-after-Kapalua event.
/wp:paragraph –> <!– wp:heading />Could golf return to Hawaii in future PGA Tour seasons?
/wp:paragraph –> <!– wp:paragraph />The PGA Tour has not ruled out future Hawaii events, stating it will provide more schedule details later and noting ongoing partnerships with local organizations and volunteers.
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