Sony Championship Hawaii to be contested on PGA TOUR Champions beginning in 2027
Golf’s legends return to historic Waialae Country Club as tournament enters new era with senior circuit transition
Korea - The PGA TOUR and Sony Group Corporation have announced that the historic Sony Open in Hawaii will transition to a PGA TOUR Champions event starting in 2027. The newly named Sony Championship Hawaii will be held from January 11-16 at the iconic Waialae Country Club in Honolulu, featuring a total tournament purse of $3 million. The strategic move marks the beginning of a fresh chapter for the event, which will now showcase the legends of the game on a golf course that has been a staple of professional tournament schedules for decades.
“We are excited to welcome the Sony Championship Hawaii to PGA TOUR Champions,” said PGA TOUR Champions President Miller Brady. “Sony has been an incredible partner since 1999, and we are looking forward to beginning this new era with the legends of the game competing on a truly iconic venue.” The sentiment was echoed by Hawaii Governor Josh Green, who praised the ongoing partnership for strengthening community impact and showcasing the spirit of aloha across the islands.
The transition sees the event become the sixth PGA TOUR Champions tournament to be contested on a course that formerly hosted a regular PGA TOUR stop. Waialae Country Club has hosted professional golf annually since 1965, crowning legendary champions such as Jack Nicklaus and Lee Trevino, as well as current senior stars Ernie Els and Jim Furyk. Beyond the sporting spectacle, Sony’s 28-year partnership with the event has generated more than $27 million for Hawaiian non-profit organisations and local charities.
The inaugural senior event will feature a competitive field of 78 PGA TOUR Champions players, with official pro-ams scheduled for the Tuesday and Wednesday of tournament week. Three rounds of championship competition will follow from Thursday, January 14 through to Saturday, January 16, with global sports marketing agency IMG appointed as the official tournament operator. All three tournament rounds will be broadcast live on the Golf Channel, reaching homes in more than 170 countries and territories worldwide.