Sony Championship Moves to Waialae as PGA Tour Champions Event with $3 Million Purse

The PGA Tour and Sony announced Wednesday that the Sony Championship will be held January 14-16 at Waialae Country Club as a PGA Tour Champions event. The tournament ends on a Saturday and carries a $3 million prize fund, ESPN reported.

The shift had been expected since April, when the tour said it would not return to Maui for The Sentry, which had preceded the Sony Open since 1999. Past champions at Waialae now competing on the 50-and-older circuit include Ernie Els, Vijay Singh, Zach Johnson and Jerry Kelly. IMG has been hired to run the event.

"Sony has been an incredible PGA Tour 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 in Waialae Country Club," said Miller Brady, president of PGA Tour Champions.

Sony has contributed more than $27 million to Hawaii nonprofit organizations since becoming title sponsor in 1999. , said the charity component was the highest priority in extending the partnership.

"We look forward to continuing our commitment to the state of Hawaii, and also to welcoming back many of the players and champions who have been such an important part of our history," Totoki said. " The 78-man field is likely to be followed by the Mitsubishi Electric Championship at Hualalai on the Big Island. It has not been determined whether the two events will swap dates in future years.