The 2026 PGA Tour season began with a historic shift in tradition, as the long-standing season-opening event, The Sentry, was absent from the calendar
The 2026 PGA Tour season began with a historic shift in tradition, as the long-standing season-opening event, The Sentry, was absent from the calendar for the first time in decades.
The 2026 edition of The Sentry, originally scheduled for January 8–11 at the Plantation Course at Kapalua in Maui, was officially canceled due to severe environmental and logistical challenges. Maui suffered from extreme drought conditions and water conservation requirements that significantly compromised the agronomic state of the course. Although the PGA Tour explored alternate venues in Hawaii and on the U.S. mainland, it ultimately determined that shipping deadlines, vendor support, and the construction of tournament infrastructure could not be met in time to guarantee Tour-standard conditions.
With The Sentry off the schedule, the Sony Open in Hawaii stepped in as the official 2026 season opener. Held from January 15–18 at Waialae Country Club in Honolulu, the event became the first full-field tournament of the year.
Chris Gotterup emerged as the first champion of the 2026 season, securing a two-stroke victory at the Sony Open. Gotterup finished at 16-under par, opening the week with a 63 and closing with a final-round 64. This victory marked the third career PGA Tour win for the 26-year-old.
Chris Gotterup is currently in his third season as a full PGA Tour member.
While he turned professional in 2022 and played several PGA Tour events that year via sponsor exemptions, his journey to full membership followed a standard progression through the development ranks:
2022: Turned pro after a decorated college career at Rutgers and Oklahoma. He played eight PGA Tour events as a non-member, recording a notable T4 finish at the John Deere Classic.
2023: Spent the season on the Korn Ferry Tour. He finished 23rd on the points list, which earned him his first full PGA Tour card for the following year.
2024: His official rookie season on the PGA Tour. He secured his first victory at the Myrtle Beach Classic in May.
2025: His second full season, highlighted by a massive win at the Genesis Scottish Open and a 3rd-place finish at The Open Championship.
2026 (Current): His third season, wins Sony Open
Radu Roman
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