When the PGA Tour announced in September that the 2026 Sentry wouldn’t return to Kapalua Resort’s Plantation Course, most expected a new venue soon. But months later, with no replacement in sight, fears are growing that the Tour’s longtime season opener may not happen at all.

NBC Sports analyst Mark Rolfing, affectionately known in golf circles as “Mr. Hawaii,” put it bluntly on The Fried Egg podcast this week — “I don’t think there is any scenario where the Sentry can be played in 2026.” Rolfing, who lives in Maui and is the best insider related to The Sentry & The Sony Open, added, “The schedule is basically full. We’re 85 days away from the start of the tournament. It’s just too late. There’s just no time for planning.”

The news has shocked the golf world. The Sentry, the PGA Tour’s season opener since 1986, is a fan favorite featuring the world’s top 60 players. So how did the Tour end up in this predicament?

Here’s the issue. The Kapalua Resort’s Plantation Course has been fighting a losing battle with severe irrigation water restrictions. Last month, the PGA Tour released a statement saying that 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.”

A legal battle between Kapalua’s owners and Maui Land & Pineapple Company has halted progress. The company, forced by state mandates to cut irrigation water by nearly 40%, was sued after shutting it off. With no resolution in sight, the standoff continues to threaten the event’s future.

The situation got so out of hand that at one point in August, both the Plantation and Bay Courses were forced to shut down after losing access to water for nearly a month. While emergency resources have been directed toward keeping the Plantation Course alive, the Bay Course is reportedly “burned out,” and efforts to salvage course conditions remain uncertain.

The PGA Tour has a proven record of adapting to crises, from natural disasters to global pandemics. The 2016 Greenbrier Classic was canceled after severe flooding in West Virginia, while THE PLAYERS Championship 2020 was halted mid-event due to COVID-19. Similarly, the Zurich Classic relocated after Hurricane Katrina, and the WGC-Mexico, ZOZO, and CJ CUP tournaments were temporarily moved during the pandemic because of travel restrictions and logistical limits.

These examples show that while the Tour values continuity, relocation or cancellation is not uncommon. When time allows, it pivots to ready venues with existing infrastructure and broadcast setups.

But when deadlines are too tight—as seen with the Greenbrier and THE PLAYERS—events are simply called off. The same risk now looms over The Sentry 2026, which could be lost if a replacement course isn’t secured soon.

The PGA Tour did suggest there would be an alternative plan in place, but so far, there’s been no update. With the lawsuit expected to drag on and with minimal time left, it is improbable that we would see The Sentry taking place in 2026. It’s a tough blow for a tournament that began in 1953 and has served as the season opener since 1986. So, it’s safe to say that for the first time in 40 years, the PGA Tour season may begin without the Sentry.

But there are some possible alternatives, if some courses are willing to host the $20 million signature event on such short notice.

Possible alternative venues for the PGA Tour to host the Sentry in 2026

With Kapalua’s Plantation Course completely out of the picture for 2026, the PGA Tour is facing a lot of pressure to keep the Sentry Tournament of Champions alive. Especially with no replacement course yet confirmed, and the schedule being more crowded than ever, the clock is ticking.

And the addition of the new Signature Event in 2026, the Miami Championship, makes things tougher. Slotted between the Masters and the PGA Championship, players will now face three Signature Events in just a few weeks, leaving even less flexibility to reschedule the Sentry.

But if the Tour does manage to keep the event in Hawaii, a few credible alternatives stand out. There’s the Four Seasons Resort Hualālai on the Big Island, which offers a championship pedigree through the PGA Tour Champions’ Mitsubishi Electric Championship. It’s a Jack Nicklaus-designed course with a 7,107-yard layout, making it a possible option.

Then there’s the Hoakalei Country Club and Kapolei Golf Club in O’ahu, which host the LOTTE Championship and the Ladies Hawaiian Open on the LPGA. Both courses have a course layout that is challenging and stretches well beyond 7000 yards, making it suitable for the PGA Tour players. Arnold Palmer’s course, The Turtle Bay, is another excellent choice for the Tour to consider. It brings not just length, but also a dramatic layout with water hazards on 14 holes.

Ultimately, any of these venues could work, but with the 2026 schedule already bursting, and with less than 2 months left, the situation is looking extremely dire for The Sentry.