The Hawaii Swing is no more, as the islands will not host any PGA Tour events in 2027, tour officials confirmed today.
The confirmation ends months of speculation, most of it doubting that The Sentry in Kapalua and the Sony Open in Hawaii would return to the islands.
The end of two PGA tournaments in Hawaii means the state will lose tens of millions of dollars in economic activity each year, as well as the invaluable publicity of showcasing the islands’ beauty in the middle of winter for much of the world.
The PGA Tour’s new CEO, Brian Rolapp, has consistently spoken of a shorter schedule that does not include tournaments in January competing against the NFL playoffs for viewership. The PGA Tour had started its season each year in Kapalua, Maui, and the Waialae Country Club on Oahu in early January.
Waialae Country Club could still be the site of a pro tournament in January 2027, however.
“We can confirm that the PGA TOUR is having conversations about the Sony Open in Hawaii becoming a PGA TOUR Champions event,” according to an email from a PGA Tour spokesperson. If that were to happen, it would be paired with another event for senior (50 and over) PGA Tour stars the following week, the Mitsubishi Electric Championship at Hualalei on Hawaii island.
But The Sentry in Kapalua, which was not played this year because of drought and water rights issues, will be no more.
“We are grateful to The Plantation Course at Kapalua, Kapalua Resort, Maui County and the State of Hawaii for their longtime support of our season-opening PGA TOUR event, as well as the fans, partners and volunteers across Maui who have supported the event throughout the years,” the tour statement reads.
Sentry Insurance has a partnership deal with the PGA Tour through 2035. It is not known yet if and where it might be a title sponsor, except that it will no longer be at Kapalua.
“We are proud to have sponsored The Sentry in Kapalua for eight years. We have said from the beginning, we love Maui and Maui is a Sentry community not unlike our hometown of Stevens Point, Wisconsin,” Stephanie Smith, Sentry’s chief marketing & brand officer and chief golf partnership officer said in a written statement. “We cherish the friends and partnerships we have formed over the past several years. Our commitment to the island runs deep, and we remain committed to being active in the community.”