PGA Tour to Open Next Season in San Diego... "No Hawaii"

The season opener for next year’s PGA Tour is expected to be held on the U.S. mainland.

On April 20 (local time), the Associated Press reported, "The PGA Tour is not including Hawaii in next year's tournament schedule," adding, "This is the first time since 1971, in 56 years, that a tournament will not be held there." The PGA Tour incorporated the Hawaiian Open, the predecessor of the current Sony Open, into the official tour in 1971, and since then, the season has begun every January in the warm climate of Hawaii.

The PGA Tour is reportedly not including a Hawaii tournament in next year's schedule. Photo by AFP Yonhap News Agency

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This year, both The Sentry and the Sony Open were included in the January schedule as the season’s opening tournaments. However, The Sentry was canceled due to drought in Hawaii, which caused the turf to dry up and die. It is reported that the PGA Tour informed tournament operator Troon Golf that, due to water shortages in Hawaii, it will not hold any tournaments there next year either.

The Sentry, which was elevated to a PGA Tour Signature Event, had its prize money increased to 20 million dollars (about 29.4 billion won), and the cost of transporting tournament equipment and facilities to Hawaii was also a burden. The Sony Open, which was held in Hawaii along with The Sentry, had its sponsorship contract expire this year. Starting next year, it is scheduled to transition into a Champions (Senior) Tour event for veteran players.

The Associated Press predicted, "While the PGA Tour schedule for 2027 has not been finalized, it is highly likely that next year’s season opener will be held at Torrey Pines in San Diego on the U.S. mainland, instead of Hawaii."

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