A PGA Tour golf course in Hawaii will no longer be hosting The Sentry, also known as the Tournament of Champions, in 2026, after having hosted the tournament since 1999, due to ongoing water issues.
Photos have captured the difference in the course over the past year, where once vibrant green fairways have now become brown and patchy.
However, while the PGA Tour cited “ongoing drought conditions” as the reason for its decision in pulling The Plantation Course at Kapalua, Maui, as host of the tournament, the company that owns the course argues there is a land and water mismanagement issue.
Why It Matters
The Sentry golf tournament has a huge economic impact on Maui, bringing in an estimated $50 million while supporting many local businesses, from hotels and restaurants to other enterprises, according to the Maui Chamber of Commerce, as cited by local news outlet Maui Now.
The chamber also reportedly said that the tournament brings between 2,000 to 3,000 tourists annually to the island, meaning the change in location is quite a blow to Maui’s economy.
Drought conditions in Maui have also been hugely impactful this year. State data shows that over 90 percent of the region has been affected, with more than 140,000 residents impacted as well.
What To Know
Last month, it was decided by the PGA Tour that the condition of the Plantation Course had been “significantly compromised by the drought and water limitations,” and while it acknowledged weather conditions could improve in the coming months, it said it would be “impossible to guarantee TOUR-standard playing conditions” in time for the tournament in January.
However, Tadashi Yanai, owner of the course and the Japanese clothing brand Uniqlo, has filed a lawsuit against Maui Land & Pineapple Company Inc (MLP), which owns 22,000 acres of land and the Honokohau ditch system that provides water for the area.
In the lawsuit, filed in August, Yanai’s Ty Management Corp (TY) accused MLP of “doing a terrible, actionable job of complying with its responsibilities as the Ditch System’s owner and operator.”
It added that MLP has “knowingly” allowed the system to “fall into a state of demonstrable disrepair,” which TY and other organizations said was the reason why users of the system are currently “without water.”
Due to the browning of the grass, The Plantation Course had to cut its rates, from $469 to $199, and from $109 to $79 for locals, before TY then had to close its courses on September 2, for a minimum of 60 days to “restore turf health.”
MLP has since filed a counter lawsuit, in September, and said that TY’s claims were “false,” and instead that there wasn’t “enough water for all users.”
MLP blamed TY and the other associations involved in the lawsuit for “the very injuries” they blamed MLP for, on the basis that they didn’t conserve water when necessary and adhere to irrigation priorities set out in Hawaii’s state law.
In the lawsuit, MLP said that TY used over 11 million gallons of water in June alone, which it said “jeopardized fire protection for the entire Kapalua community.”
MLP then said TY began to follow the rules after ignoring irrigation restrictions for months, and, once it was properly following irrigation regulations, it started to curate a “narrative for a defamatory publicity campaign” against MLP.
What People Are Saying
The PGA Tour said in a statement: “Following discussions with the Governor’s 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. Additional event information will be shared when appropriate.”
Hawaii Governor Josh Green said in a statement: “We support the PGA TOUR’s decision, given the drought conditions Maui is facing. Protecting our water and supporting our communities come first. The Sentry has long showcased Maui’s beauty while giving back to local nonprofits, and we’re grateful to the TOUR, Sentry Insurance, Kapalua Resort and Maui County for their partnership.”
Race Randle, CEO, Maui Land & Pineapple Company, said in a statement: “The problem is not MLP’s system; the problem is there has not been enough rain in the past year to supply stream water to all off-stream users in West Maui. State law is clear: Public trust uses, such as in-stream flows and drinking water, take priority over private irrigation. False claims and smear campaigns will not deter us from following state guidance or distract us from collaborating on long-term water solutions for generations to come.”
What Happens Next
TY has temporarily closed its courses while they restore the condition of the grass, and it is not yet clear where the 2026 tournament of The Sentry will be held.
