PGA Tour drops Hawaii events from its 2027 season’s schedule

File photo of Hideki Matsuyama with his 2025 The Sentry trophy in Kapalua. Image courtesy PGA Tour/X.

By Rahul Banerji

For the first time in 63 years, the PGA Tour will have no events in Hawaii on its schedule for 2027, the tour has said in a statement. The tour has had a presence in the Pacific since the 1965 Sony Open.

This year’s season-opener, The Sentry, being played since 1999, was cancelled due to drought conditions in Maui and water issues at the Plantation Course in Kapalua. 

The Tour said it would end its tournament presence in Maui and added it had begun to explore options to transition the Sony Open in Hawaii into a PGA Tour Champions event.

The Sentry — previously the Tournament of Champions — held at The Plantation Course from 1999 to 2025, was not contested this year.

It was the season-opening event from 1999 to 2013 and again in 2024 and 2025. 

Reports said Sentry Insurance’s deal runs till 2035 and the Tour has been in talks with Torrey Pines in California to shift the title sponsorship as the San Diego event’s partnership with Farmers Insurance is expected to end this year.

Hideki’s run

Last year, Japanese superstar Hideki Matsuyama won the Maui event, breaking the Tour’s scoring record relative to par with a score of 35 under.

“We are grateful to The Plantation Course at Kapalua, Kapalua Resort, Maui County and the state of Hawaii for their longtime support of our season-opening PGA Tour event, as well as the fans, partners and volunteers across Maui who have supported the event throughout the years,” the Tour said.

While further details regarding the 2027 schedule are expected to be made available later, talks are on about the Sony Open in Hawaii moving to the PGA Tour Champions schedule in conjunction with the Mitsubishi Electric Championship at Hualalai to create a two-tournament presence in Hawaii. 

The Tour has been in communication with Sentry Insurance and Sony throughout its decision-making process, the statement said.

Held at Waialae Country Club in Honolulu since 1971, the Sony Open served as the season-opener this year and was won by Chris Gotterup, the first of his two wins this season.

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