For a decade or so, every golf fan’s year would begin with watching the golden sun’s bright light on the palm trees as they swayed slowly, the vast blue ocean stretching infinitely in the background. The Sentry was the iconic way to start the golf season, with tradition and spectacle. But with the Tour’s failure to preserve the Kapulua Plantation Course, the baton of season-opener will be passed on to the Sony Open at Waialae. What’s worse is that this tournament, too, has an uncertain future, leaving many rattled.

Sony’s contract for Waialae expires after 2026, and there’s still no word on renewal. That uncertainty has sparked concern about losing both of Hawaii’s iconic PGA Tour stops. Joseph LaMagna of Fried Egg Golf wrote on X, “Kapalua and Waialae are iconic venues that give the Tour a soul. Dropping Hawaii would be an enormous loss for golf fans.” Josh Carpenter of Sports Business Journal agreed, saying, “Agree with this. Not counting the majors, Kapalua is probably in my top 3 tournaments. Fun course, big names, stunning visuals.”

For any golf fans, that sentiment will run deep. You can’t forget Tiger Woods‘ battles at Kapalua, especially his 2000 playoff win against Ernie Els. The Big Cat’s dramatic 40-foot birdie putt is one for the golf lore.

His six starts at the Plantation Course never saw him finish outside the top-10, a record that subsequently helped cement the event’s prestige in the early 2000s. And with all these changes taking place, Woods might have to face a full-circle moment.

“It’s believed that the tour’s Future Competitions Committee, which was announced in August around the Tour Championship, is addressing the tour’s future in Hawaii. In addition to the two PGA Tour events, the PGA Tour Champions also hosts the Mitsubishi Electric Championship at Hualalai Golf Club each January,” reports Carpenter in his Sports Business Journal report.

The nine-member panel that is headed by Woods was set up to reshape pro golf’s competitive structure. Rolapp had explicitly said that the goal is to make “significant change.”

One of the duties under this is looking after the regular season structure, the number of events, scheduling, and similar other aspects. “This is about shaping the next era of the PGA Tour—for our fans, players and partners,” is what Woods said while embracing his role.

With The Sentry off the schedule, Woods may need to step in and guide the Tour’s next move. The committee must decide if Hawaii remains part of its long-term vision or if logistical and environmental issues force a shift.

Since the Senior Tour already plays at Hualalai Golf Club, a move there could be a solution. Challenges remain, but preserving golf’s legacy means keeping a PGA Tour event in Hawaii—both The Sentry and the Sony Open have delivered unforgettable moments for fans.

At the Sony Open, Jack Nicklaus‘s 1974 win and Lee Trevino‘s 1968 win are unforgettable. Els had his back-to-back titles there in 2003-04. Particularly in ’03 when he achieved the Hawaii Double – a win at both the Sony Open and Sentry. In the modern era, Justin Thomas has one to his name.

That’s why Open de France champion, Michael Kim, could not resist chiming in on the debate. Quoting Caprenter’s tweet, he states, “Love Sentry, love Sony. Hope to play them for a really long time.” His feelings are justified, as he registered a T5 at The Sentry just this year.

The root cause of all this is the ongoing water issues affecting the Kapalua course. Due to severe drought and water shortage in Maui, the course had to be shut down to conserve water. The Tour subsequently failed to relocate to a newer location, due to several logistical obstacles.

“While it is unfortunate to arrive at this decision, we are appreciative of the collaboration and dedication from Sentry Insurance, a tremendous partner of ours,” said Tyler Dennis, PGA Tour Chief Competitions Officer.

What’s also worth noting is that The Sentry’s partnership with the Tour will go on for 10 more years, until 2035. So, how the PGA Tour works around that is also something to be seen.

Now that The Sentry is not being played, there will be only eight Signature events in the coming year. Interestingly, a new Signature event in Miami had been added for next season, sparking annoyance among several players.

But with the Sentry’s cancellation, that scheduling issue now seems to have resolved itself. Woods’s role will be particularly significant given his position. He will have an institutional authority to drive significant changes.

Still, that hardly eases the players’ frustration, as there’s a new challenge for them.

The Sentry’s cancellation leaves players in limbo

For several players who earned their spot in next year’s Sentry, the cancellation of the season-opener will hit them hard. These players who have qualified via the FedEx Cup Top 50 maintain their exempt status and can compete in all signature events; the winners outside that list are now left wondering their place in the uncertain schedule.

Although the PGA Tour has done its part in clarifying its situation. These players will receive a spot in the RBC Heritage, which is another sig event with a $20 million purse, held at Harbor Town Golf Links. Reporter Bob Harig noted, “Players who qualified for the Sentry by winning a tournament but not via the FedEx Top 50 will get a start at the RBC Heritage and will be added to the field.”

Yet, the RBC Heritage cannot compete with the tradition and legacy of The Sentry. And while Brian Rolapp’s intent to ease the PGA Tour’s tightly packed schedule means the absence of The Sentry could offer players some physical respite, this is far from the solution the golf world was hoping for.