The PGA Tour will not hold its traditional season-opening tournament “The Sentry” in January 2026 as usual on the Plantation Course in Kapalua, Hawaii. The main reasons are persistent drought, water shortages, agronomic problems and logistical challenges.
The prestigious event has been held at Kapalua Resort almost every year since 1999 – with the exception of 2001, when the season began in Australia. “The Sentry” is a signature event of the PGA Tour, in which the winners of the previous year and the top 50 of the FedExCup ranking take part. The tournament also has a significant economic impact on Kapalua and the surrounding area – the economic impact is estimated to be around 50 million US dollars.
Extreme drought on Maui
Maui is currently suffering from severe drought conditions, affecting more than 140,000 inhabitants. Water shortages and the associated austerity measures are increasing. There are now official restrictions, particularly on irrigation. The Kapalua Plantation Course has already shown visible damage due to a lack of irrigation – parched, brown areas are not uncommon.
A central part of the problem is a dispute over the water supply. “Maui Land & Pineapple” (MLP), the operator of the historic irrigation system, is accused of neglecting maintenance. Opponents accuse the company of failing to adequately maintain the pipeline ditches and water channels that are essential for irrigation, which means that water can no longer flow effectively down from the higher areas.
Kapalua Resort and other plaintiffs – including local farms and property owners – have therefore filed a lawsuit against the MLP. They claim that the deterioration of the system was not caused by natural events, but was due to inadequate maintenance.
One course is completely closed
On September 2, the courses on Kapalua (Plantation Course) were already closed for two months to protect them with the water that was still available. The Bay Course was also closed to save resources and concentrate irrigation on the more challenging Plantation Course.
The future course of the dispute over the island’s water and the traditional PGA tournament are unclear. The relocation of the PGA Tour’s season opener from Kapalua marks a break in a tradition that had spanned nearly three decades. However, the decision clearly reflects how environmental issues—in this case drought and water management—not only have ecological consequences but also sporting and economic ones.
Image: St. Andrews Links Trust