Something is amiss this week as the PGA Tour sits idle until next week when the Sony Open kicks off the new season. This is the first time since 1999 that the Tour hasn't opened with its tournament of champions — known as The Sentry the past two years — during the first week of January. Drought conditions at Kapalua Golf's Plantation Course in 2025 prompted the Tour to cancel the event for 2026. As for all of 2025's tournament champions? They have been invited to play the RBC Heritage in April.

POLL

▪️ Will Brooks Koepka return to the PGA Tour in 2026? | Vote
▪️ Previous: How often do you expect to play golf between Christmas and New Year's Day (including those two days)? | Results

QUESTION OF THE WEEK

▪️ Looking into a crystal ball for 2026, what do you believe will be the major storylines in golf? | Respond
▪️ Previous: What golf resolutions do you have for 2026? | Read

RECENT DROPS 

🎧  GOLF INNERVIEW WITH ANN LIGUORI
Oh how the Irish eyes are smiling
Guests: Paul McGinley, Padraig Harrington and Ed Walsh, the U.S. Ambassador to Ireland.
Listen | Archives

🎧 GOLF AND THE GOOD LIFE
AI and golf travel planning: What it gets right and where it falls short
Hosts: D.J. Jones and Connor Evers, Haversham & Baker Expeditions.
Listen | Archives

ARCHIVES: 🎧  Podcasts | ▶️  Videos

Giants Ridge: Names Duane Stutzman as the general manager of the Biwarik, Minnesota, destination. ... Legacy Golf Properties: Acquires Buffalo Creek Golf Club, located in Rockwall, Texas. ... Fireballs GC: LIV Golf franchise signs captain Sergio Garcia to a multi-year extension. ... Blue Tees Golf: Will debut advancements that extend beyond individual products at the PGA Show. ... Duca del Cosma: Italian fashion brand renews its partnership with the Association of Golf Merchandisers, which will include sponsorship of the AGM Platinum Awards Ceremony at the PGA Show.

EXPANDED NOTES >

RELATED: Industry press releases | Industry press release videos
RELATED: The First Call / PR Newswire feed

▪️ The National Links Trust’s battle with the Trump administration, explained
[Garrett Morrison | Fried Egg Golf | Read]

▪️ The Brooks Koepka-PGA Tour question? For Rory McIlroy, the answer is easy
[Josh Schrock | Golf.com | Read]

▪️ Huge fire at historic UK clubhouse requires 60 firefighters, public told to stay away
[Greg Gottfried | Golf Digest | Read]

THIS WEEK'S FEATURED LISTINGS

▪️ Head Golf Professional
The Club at Starr Pass
Tucson, Arizona | Info

▪️ Paid Media Specialist
Acushnet Company | Foot Joy
Fairhaven, Massachusetts | Info

▪️ Foundation Development Director
Middle Atlantic Section
Stafford, Virginia | Info

▪️ The First Call Job Board
▪️ Buffalo Groupe Job Openings

JANUARY
19-21: Golf Business Conference, Orlando, Florida | Info
20-22: BIGGA Turf Management Exhibition, Harrogate, England | Info
20-23: PGA Show, Orlando, Florida | Info

FEBRUARY
17-21: Club Management Association of America World Conference and Club Business Expo, Anaheim, California | Info

COMPLETE CALENDAR >

To submit events for the calendar, please include the event name, date, location and informational link to info@firstcallgolf.com.