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PGA Tour’s Season Opener in Doubt for 2026 After Kapalua Is Scrapped

Insiders say a packed calendar leaves no time to relocate after drought damage.

Overview

  • The PGA TOUR confirmed The Sentry will not be played at Kapalua’s Plantation Course in 2026 due to drought conditions, water conservation requirements, agronomic issues and logistical challenges.
  • NBC/Golf Channel analyst Mark Rolfing said he sees no scenario for staging the event in 2026, noting the schedule is essentially full and only about 85 days remain for planning.
  • Tour officials have explored replacement venues but have announced no decision, and the compressed early‑season slate makes securing dates and broadcast-ready infrastructure difficult.
  • Kapalua’s courses suffered extended irrigation cuts tied to conservation mandates, leading to course closures; the Bay Course is reported “burned out” while emergency watering focused on the Plantation.
  • A legal fight between Kapalua’s ownership and Maui Land & Pineapple over the water shutdown is ongoing, and with Sentry signed as title sponsor through 2035, questions persist about the event’s long-term home.