{"id":232915,"date":"2025-09-17T04:03:16","date_gmt":"2025-09-17T04:03:16","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/232915\/"},"modified":"2025-09-17T04:03:16","modified_gmt":"2025-09-17T04:03:16","slug":"breaking-pga-tour-cancels-the-sentry-tournament-on-maui-in-2026-state-county-nonprofits-brace-for-economic-hit-maui-now","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/232915\/","title":{"rendered":"BREAKING: PGA Tour cancels The Sentry tournament on Maui in 2026; state, county, nonprofits brace for economic hit : Maui Now"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

The PGA Tour announced today it is not holding The Sentry at the Plantation Course at Kapalua \u2014 the home of the tour\u2019s prestigious season-opening event for the past 27 years \u2014 due to the water-starved condition of the course.<\/p>\n

\u201cFollowing discussions with the Governor\u2019s office, as well as leadership from Sentry Insurance, Kapalua Resort and Maui County, the PGA Tour has determined the 2026 playing of The Sentry will not be contested at The Plantation Course at Kapalua due to ongoing drought conditions, water conservation requirements, agronomic conditions and logistical challenges,\u201d the PGA Tour said in an emailed statement to the Hawai\u2018i Journalism Initiative.<\/p>\n

\"ThisConditions deteriorated quickly at the Plantation Course at Kapalua over the summer due to severe water restrictions, with this photo taken Aug. 18 showing the parched 18th hole fairway and green in the middle and he 1st hole tee and fairway to the right. Courtesy photo <\/p>\n

The PGA Tour did not elaborate on the status of the event past 2026, saying only: \u201cAdditional event information will be shared when appropriate.\u201d<\/p>\n

HJI Weekly Newsletter<\/p>\n

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ADDING YOU TO THE LIST…<\/p>\n

But even the loss of the tournament for one year will be a big economic hit to Maui, with the event bringing an estimated economic impact of $50 million annually<\/a>.<\/p>\n

In mid-August, the PGA Tour announced The Sentry would be held Jan. 8-11 at the Plantation Course<\/a>. But Maui\u2019s longstanding water issues came to light the same week with a lawsuit filed Aug. 18<\/a> by the owner of the Kapalua Plantation Course, Tadashi Yanai, a Japanese billionaire, against Maui Land & Pineapple.\u00a0<\/p>\n

TY Management Corporation, Yanai\u2019s company, claims that Maui Land & Pineapple failed to maintain the more than century old Honok\u014dhau Ditch System, which has led to severe water shortages and restrictions in West Maui.<\/p>\n

\u201cOut of the 154 days immediately preceding the filing of this Complaint \u2026 all Plaintiffs have been restricted to using no irrigation water for 136 days, and restricted using only 40 percent of their historical irrigation water usage for the remaining 18 days,\u201d the lawsuit said.<\/p>\n

Since then, the future of the water system has been up in the air, as Maui Land & Pineapple announced Wednesday<\/a> on its website that it has been exploring the possibility of selling or leasing its \u201cwater source and infrastructure assets.\u201d<\/p>\n

TY Management Corporation responded with a related statement the same day: \u201cInstead of helping the community that depends on their water, Maui Land & Pineapple is spending its energy announcing months old business maneuvers to offload responsibility at a crucial time of need. This announcement does nothing to solve the immediate crisis. It wastes time and resources on MLP\u2019s own interests while doing little to address the urgent needs of residents, farmers and businesses.\u201d<\/p>\n

On Tuesday, Maui Land & Pine provided this statement to Hawai\u2019i Journalism Initiative: <\/p>\n

\u201cThe Sentry Tournament has provided much for Maui both in economic benefits and charitable contributions. The decision to leave Maui next year underscores the real challenges West Maui is facing with limited water resources. Maui\u2019s severe drought is having island-wide impacts, which we are seeing firsthand from the delays in much-needed housing creation to less water availability for domestic and irrigation uses. <\/p>\n

\u201cFor over a year, we have actively engaged with the Kapalua golf courses and other stakeholders to find solutions by reducing consumption and exploring the use of recycled water in West Maui. We will continue to follow guidance from the State of Hawai\u2019i while supporting long-term strategies to ensure availability for generations to come.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"ThisThis screenshot shows the 18th green and the first fairway at the Kapalua Plantation Course just prior to the start of The Sentry PGA Tour golf tournament in January 2025. <\/p>\n

As of Friday, the water restrictions at Kapalua are at tier 3,<\/a> or a 60% reduction. The Plantation and Bay golf courses closed for 60 days, starting Sept. 2<\/a>, in an effort to restore the grass. Kapalua Golf announced Monday in an email to Hawai\u2019i Journalism Initiative that \u201cit has made the painful but necessary decision to close the Bay Course indefinitely and concentrate all available water on the Plantation Course.\u201d<\/p>\n

The PGA Tour\u2019s agronomy team visited Kapalua Resort in early September and concluded that the course\u2019s conditions were severely impacted by the drought and water restrictions.<\/p>\n

With the event 114 days away as of Tuesday, the PGA Tour said it needed to make the decision now due to logistical challenges that include shipping deadlines, tournament build-out and vendor support.<\/p>\n

\"CollinCollin Morikawa, the No. 8-ranked golfer in the world, is interviewed at The Sentry golf tournament at the Kapalua Plantation Course in January. HJI \/ ROB COLLIAS photo<\/p>\n

The Sentry was scheduled to be one of nine Signature events on the PGA Tour in 2026, up from eight a year ago. The smaller-field event carried more FedEx Cup playoff points and a purse of $20 million, which is more than regular-season events. The newest Signature event \u2014 the Miami Championship at Trump National Doral course in Florida \u2014 is set for April 30-May 3 and does not yet have a title sponsor.<\/p>\n

On Aug. 20, new PGA Tour CEO Brian Rolapp said at his introductory press conference that \u201cscarcity\u201d is one of the key characteristics he wants to see going forward: \u201cI think the focus will be \u2026 to create events that really matter, and how we do that, what the number is, we\u2019ll determine.\u201d<\/p>\n

Rolapp met virtually with Hawai\u2018i Gov. Josh Green on Monday afternoon to discuss the challenges the local community is facing and the decision to not play the tournament at The Plantation Course in 2026.<\/p>\n

This is another economic hit for Maui, especially to West Maui which still is recovering from the wildfires two years ago that burned most of the town of Lahaina and 26 homes in Kula.<\/p>\n

Many restaurants, hotels and small businesses counted on the annual revenue from the approximately 2,000 to 3,000 tourists who came each year to watch The Sentry, which formerly was know as the Tournament of Champions. The full-field Sony Open in Hawai\u2019i is set to take place at Waialae Country Club on O\u2019ahu Jan. 12-15, 2026.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe support the PGA Tour\u2019s decision, given the drought conditions Maui is facing,\u201d Hawai\u2019i Gov. Josh Green said in an emailed statement to Hawai\u2019i Journalism Initiative Tuesday. \u201cProtecting our water and supporting our communities come first. The Sentry has long showcased Maui\u2019s beauty while giving back to local nonprofits, and we\u2019re grateful to the Tour, Sentry Insurance, Kapalua Resort and Maui County for their partnership. We are excited to host the Sony Open in Hawai\u2018i, bringing international attention and support to Hawai\u2018i\u2019s communities.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n

Maui Mayor Richard Bissen had similar thoughts to Gov. Green on the tough decision to not play The Sentry at the Plantation Course at Kapalua in less that four months.<\/p>\n

\u201cWith our island facing the serious impacts of drought, we understand the PGA Tour\u2019s difficult decision. While this situation involves a private water source outside the oversight of our County system, protecting all water resources and meeting the needs of our residents must remain the priority,\u201d Bissen said in an email to Hawai\u2019i Journalism Initiative.<\/p>\n

\"TheThe Sentry PGA Tour golf tournament announced total donations of $747,704 to several Maui charities on May 20 at the Boys & Girls Club of Maui \u2013 Lahaina. PGA TOUR photo<\/p>\n

Stephanie Smith, chief marketing & brand officer and chief golf partnership officer for title sponsor Sentry Insurance, said in an email to the Hawai\u02bbi Journalism Initiative: \u201cWe understand and support the PGA Tour\u2019s decision, given the challenges related to the ongoing drought. We love Maui and the people who make the community such a special place. <\/p>\n

\u201cAs we\u2019ve said for years, Maui is a Sentry community not unlike our hometown of Stevens Point, Wisc., and that remains the case. Our communities are connected. We\u2019ve built meaningful friendships throughout the island, and those relationships are bigger than the tournament.\u201d<\/p>\n

Sentry Insurance donated more than $3 million<\/a> of its own company\u2019s funds in the aftermath of the Lahaina and Kula wildfires of 2023. Sentry Insurance has been the title sponsor for the Kapalua event since 2018 and has signed to be the title sponsor through 2035.<\/p>\n

Bissen added that Sentry Insurance has done a lot for the island as title sponsor here. Bissen noted the event\u2019s impact here has been imnportant for nearly three decades.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe are grateful to the PGA Tour, Sentry Insurance, and Kapalua Resort for their continued partnership, and we are saddened that the tournament will not return in 2026,\u201d Bissen said. \u201cSince 1999, the Tour has brought worldwide attention and support to Maui. The Sentry has contributed $9.7 million to local charities, but they are far more than a sponsor\u2014they are a philanthropic friend with a long-term commitment to Maui. Through their Connected Communities program, they continue to provide collaborative opportunities for education and nonprofits that will benefit our residents for years to come.\u201d <\/p>\n

\"HidekiHideki Matsuyama signs flags after The Sentry golf tournament at the Kapalua Plantation Course on Jan. 5, 2025. HJI \/ ROB COLLIAS photo<\/p>\n

But of all the losses, charitable organizations on Maui will be among the hardest hit.<\/p>\n

On May 20, tournament officials announced that The Sentry contributed a tournament record $747,704 to local nonprofits<\/a> as a result of the tournament in 2025.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Since coming to Maui in 1999, The Sentry has raised more than $9.7 million for local nonprofits. With support from Sentry Insurance, the event has contributed to six community organizations: Scouting America-Aloha Council, Hale Makua Health Services, J. Walter Cameron Center, Ka Lima O Maui, Lahainaluna High School Foundation and Lahaina Junior Golf.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Hale Makua<\/a> has been a beneficiary of The Sentry since 2002. Over that time span, the adult care center has received more than $1.5 million, according to CEO Wes Lo.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s been a pretty important part of our fundraising,\u201d Lo said. \u201cIt\u2019s always something we can count on in fundraising.\u00a0And it\u2019s a steady thing and it has grown a little bit over the last few years.\u201d<\/p>\n

As recently as Wednesday, staff had been making plans with tournament officials who said the tournament was still moving forward. <\/p>\n

Ka Lima O Maui<\/a>, a community-based vocational rehabilitation program founded in 1955 that provides job training and employment opportunities for adults with disabilities, has been one of the beneficiaries since the first tournament on Maui in 1999.<\/p>\n

Ka Lima O Maui is one of Maui\u2019s oldest nonprofits and the largest employer of disabled residents on island, with more than 60 adults with disabilities in custodial and paper-shredding crews and 27 disabled adult participants in an adults day activity center program.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe need every dollar that we can get to make sure that our programs are\u00a0running safely, efficiently and serving as many individuals as we can,\u201d said JD Wyatt, executive director of Ka Lima O Maui. <\/p>\n

Hale Makua volunteers empty and reline the trash cans at the Plantation Course during the tournament. Hale Makua usually sent 15 to 20 volunteers per day to the tournament.<\/p>\n

\"XanderXander Schauffele, the No. 3-ranked golfer in the world, is interviewed at The Sentry golf tournament at the Kapalua Plantation Course in January. HJI \/ ROB COLLIAS photo<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019re called \u2018ecology\u2019 and my staff also enjoys\u00a0participating in it,\u201d Lo said. \u201cWe have a really good time there and interacting with everybody. To watch a major sporting event like that up close is pretty special.\u201d<\/p>\n

The Hale Makua staff was usually out at the event for practice and pro-am rounds on Tuesday and Wednesday through the final round Sunday. When he was there, Lo took time to interact with fellow charitable recipients at the event as well.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m seeing CEOs from other\u00a0nonprofits doing the same thing we\u2019re doing,\u201d Lo said. \u201cI\u2019m picking up trash there; they\u2019re running food and everything. I mean, we\u2019re very proud to be out there representing\u00a0the community. I think number one, it does bring the community together.\u201d<\/p>\n

Ka Lima O Maui sends 10 volunteers to the tournament Wednesday through Sunday, eight to stock and service the hydration stations and two to help with childcare for the PGA Tour players\u2019 children.<\/p>\n

While Wyatt declined to say how much his organization receives from The Sentry annually, he said, \u201cFrom a donation perspective, it\u2019s a substantial part of our donation income.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"LahainalunaLahainaluna High School students paint picnic tables prior to The Sentry golf tournament at the Kapalua Plantation Course in December 2024. These students were working as volunteers for the Lahainaluna High School Foundation. HJI \/ ROB COLLIAS photo<\/p>\n

The Lahainaluna High School Foundation gets all of its charitable contributions from The Sentry, sending 140 volunteer Lahainaluna High School students from football, softball, boys and girls wrestling, baseball, band and robotics programs. The proceeds the foundation receives from The Sentry go to college scholarships for Lahainaluna graduates.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s going to be devastating,\u201d foundation president Mark Tillman said. \u201cThe fact is that we have put all our eggs in one basket and use this as our sole source\u00a0of generating income for the foundation, which has a primary responsibility of providing\u00a0scholarships for our graduating seniors.\u00a0This will leave us flat for the year even if it\u2019s only gone for a year.\u201d<\/p>\n

During Aloha Friday on Jan. 4, 2025, PGA Tour players also helped raise funds and awareness for on-island charities by wearing aloha print hats, shirts, pants or shoes.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Additional local nonprofits that benefitted from the 2025 tournament included Aloha Pu\u2018u Kukui Watershed, Hawai\u2018i State Junior Golf Association\/First Tee of Hawai\u2018i, Hua Momona Farms, Kapalua Maui Charities, Maui Junior Golf, University of Hawai\u2018i Maui College, Maui United Way and Maui Strikers Soccer Club.<\/p>\n

Wyatt said: \u201cKnowing other agencies\u00a0and the charitable giving that\u2019s done for them, this will hit us all really severely.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"The PGA Tour announced today it is not holding The Sentry at the Plantation Course at Kapalua \u2014…\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":232916,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[47],"tags":[104,119260,1430,125435,125436,125437,125438,125439,1456,125440,62,125441,67,132,68,11003],"class_list":{"0":"post-232915","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-golf","8":"tag-breaking-news","9":"tag-charities","10":"tag-golf","11":"tag-hale-makua","12":"tag-ka-lima-o-maui","13":"tag-kapalua-plantation-course","14":"tag-lahainaluna-high-school-foundation","15":"tag-npcrosspost","16":"tag-pga-tour","17":"tag-sentry-insurance","18":"tag-sports","19":"tag-the-sentry","20":"tag-united-states","21":"tag-unitedstates","22":"tag-us","23":"tag-wildfire"},"share_on_mastodon":{"url":"https:\/\/pubeurope.com\/@us\/115217656183273488","error":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/232915","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=232915"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/232915\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/232916"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=232915"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=232915"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=232915"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}