The PGA Tour will not be in Hawaii in 2027 for the first time in 56 years as it moves to an improved schedule that will no longer start the season in the middle of the Pacific Ocean.
The Sentry was canceled last January in drought-stricken Maui when the grass on the Plantation course in Kapalua died due to restrictions imposed by a dispute with the company that manages the 100-year-old water delivery system.
Two employees of Kapalua, which is owned by Troon Golf, were informed on Monday of the decision not to return.
The PGA Tour confirmed it when contacted by ESPN.
The Sony Open on Oahu was in the last year of its sponsorship. It has depended on being the week after Kapalua since 1999 to help attract players with a two-week stay in Hawaii.
The Sony Open is serving as the season-opening event for the PGA Tour Champions to be combined with the Mitsubishi Electric Championship on the Big Island.
“We thank the Plantation Course at Kapalua, Kapalua Resort, Maui County and the state of Hawaii for their longtime support of our PGA Tour season-opening event, as well as the fans, partners and volunteers across Maui who have supported the event throughout the years,” the tour said in a statement.
It said it would share more details about the 2027 plan later.
Kapalua began as a winners-only start to the 1999 PGA Tour season, a favorite among players for its wide fairways and endless ocean views at the west end of Maui.
Wisconsin-based Sentry took over as title sponsor in 2018, and its latest extension takes it to 2035.
A possible destination for Sentry is Torrey Pines in San Diego, where several managers have been this year. Torrey Pines’ previous sponsorship with Farmers Insurance ended this year with no intention of renewing.
Stephanie Smith, the golf company’s chief marketing and management officer, would not comment on future plans, but said Sentry is proud of its eight-year run at Kapalua.
“We said from the beginning that we love Maui and Maui is a Sentry community, unlike my hometown of Stevens Point, Wisconsin,” he said. “We value the friends and partnerships we’ve established over the past few years. Our commitment to the island runs deep, and we remain committed to community involvement.”
Hideki Matsuyama was the last winner in Kapalua. The final stroke was an 8-foot birdie putt that set the PGA Tour record score to 35 under.
The trip was sponsoring a fundraiser that reached $20 million during the signing event, and Sentry was among the most expensive operations due to sending a lot of equipment to Maui. Attendees were in the middle.
The water dispute involved allegations by Kapalua’s owner, Japanese billionaire Tadashi Yanai, the landowners and Hua Momona Farms that Maui Land & Pineapple did not maintain the water delivery system.
Maui Land & Pineapple then filed a countersuit and alleged Kapalua violated water restrictions.
The Sony Open dates began in 1965 and has been played continuously since 1971, being played at the Waialae Country Club in Honolulu, just down the beach from Diamond Head. It took over as the season opener this year when The Sentry was cancelled, and was won by Chris Gotterup.
The most famous moment in the tournament’s history was Isao Aoki’s flyout for an eagle in 1983. Ernie Els became the first player to sweep Hawaii events in 2003 when he won at Kapalua and Waialae.
Information from the Associated Press was used in this report.
