PGA Tour January 2026 Breakdown: Which Event Opens the Season Without The Sentry
ATLANTA, GA - AUGUST 21: Scottie Scheffler of the United States watches his shot from a green side bunker on No. 18 during the first round of the PGA, Golf Herren Tour Championship, August 21, 2025 at East Lake Golf Club in Atlanta, Georgia. Photo by Matthew Maxey/Icon Sportswire GOLF: AUG 21 PGA FedEx Cup Playoffs - Tour Championship EDITORIAL USE ONLY Icon250821053
ATLANTA, GA - AUGUST 21: Scottie Scheffler of the United States watches his shot from a green side bunker on No. 18 during the first round of the PGA, Golf Herren Tour Championship, August 21, 2025 at East Lake Golf Club in Atlanta, Georgia. Photo by Matthew Maxey/Icon Sportswire GOLF: AUG 21 PGA FedEx Cup Playoffs - Tour Championship EDITORIAL USE ONLY Icon250821053
The PGA Tour is shaking things up in 2026. The Sentry, which has always been the long-standing curtain-raiser, won’t be played.
It was cancelled back in October due to severe drought conditions and logistical issues at its traditional host site in Kapalua, Hawaii. It is the first since the pandemic era that any event has been canceled. And it pushes the start of the season back to mid-January.
With The Sentry out, the Tour’s January slate shifts, and although it’s the beginning of a new year, there’s still plenty of competitive golf ahead.
Sony Open in Hawaii: Official Season Opener
With The Sentry off the calendar, the Sony Open in Hawaii assumes the role of the official opening event. The Sony Open features a solid full field and returns January 12–18 at Waialae Country Club, Honolulu, Hawaii. The purse for 2026 is approximately $9.1 million, and the winner's share is usually a bit over $1.6 million.
The 2025 champion, Nick Taylor from Canada, is coming in as the defending champion.
The American Express: California Action
Immediately following the Sony Open, The American Express heads to the California desert for its traditional four-day event from January 22–25, 2026. The tournament rotates across several courses in the La Quinta area, and in 2025, Sepp Straka captured the title with a standout performance.
The purse sits in the $8.8 million range, with the winner pocketing well over a million dollars, typical for this tournament on the PGA Tour schedule.
Farmers Insurance Open: Late January Test
Closing out January’s stretch on the PGA Tour is the Farmers Insurance Open at iconic Torrey Pines, La Jolla, California, from January 29 – February 1, 2026. With one of the richest purses early in the season, sitting at around $9.3 million, the Farmers Insurance Open is a real test.
Competitors must manage the North as well as the South courses at Torrey Pines, with the more challenging South Course usually determining who the finalists are on Sunday. Harris English is back as a defending champion after a convincing victory last year, and his level of play is a strong benchmark for the field.
Written by
Dolly Bhamrick
Edited by
Siddharth Shirwadkar