For sixty years now, the island of Maui has hosted PGA Tour events. However, recent changes in the Tour have left the future of the Hawaii Swing uncertain. Now, after months of speculation and discussions, the PGA Tour has announced that the Hawaii Swing is now off the regular season schedule.
Why Was The Hawaii Swing Removed
When Brian Rolapp stepped into the role as the PGA Tour CEO, he had some plans to gain more viewership for the events. As well as keeping the sport in a better position on its viewers’ calendar. This involves retooling the calendar by cutting off some events that have either fallen out of popularity or that just don’t fit in anymore. The idea is to make golf more of a summer sport to avoid competition with the NFL during its season. This is what led to the Sentry and the Sony Open being removed from the schedule. Bringing an end to the Hawaii Swing.
Player’s Response
This news came to the players as they were arriving at New Orleans for the Zurich Classic. Golf Channel’s Brently Romine got some players’ reactions to the news as they were preparing for the Zurich Classic. Most of the interviews he got were mostly accepting of this news, as they saw it as just a natural evolution of the league. In an interview, Max McGreevy gave his thoughts on the recent announcement.
“Unfortunately, I think that’s just kind of part of business over years and years of play. Obviously, Sony’s great event starting the year out in Hawaii is obviously awesome, but there are always some changes that are gonna have to be made. I think, throughout years and years. Hopefully, we can still keep it as either Champions Tour or something else that could make it work. It stinks to lose it, but I think in the overall scheme of things that’s just potentially going to happen.”
Unfortunately, the Sentry wasn’t held this year due to a mix of drought that left the course in bad shape, as well as the logistical issues in moving venues. The Sony Open still had its own send-off at the start of the season. As a result, the Hawaii Swing was only one event for 2026. Not exactly ideal for what turned out to be its final year.
A Future For The Hawaii Swing?
Although the two events have been removed from the regular season, there is a future for them elsewhere under the PGA umbrella. In the same statement that announced the removal of the Hawaii Swing, it was also announced that the Tour is looking to put the Sony Open on the PGA Tour Champions. Essentially, keeping the event going for the seniors circuit. It is currently unknown what the future of the Sentry holds, but it could meet a similar fate to the Sony Open. Hawaii has hosted events since 1965, and the PGA is not ready to fully eliminate the events.
Main Photo Credit: © Marco Garcia-Imagn Images
