The Tradition moves to Oregon

The Tradition, one of senior golf's four major championships, will move from Arizona to Oregon next year.

PGA Tour Commissioner Tim Finchem announced Tuesday that The Tradition, which had been played in Scottsdale, Ariz., since 1989, will move to The Reserve Vineyards & Golf Club in Aloha, Ore., on Aug. 25-31.

The tournament will be the first official event staged in Oregon since 1982, when the Portland Golf Club hosted the U.S. Senior Open.

Jeld-Wen, an Oregon-based window and door manufacturer, will be the title sponsor.

The company was trying to land a PGA Tour event on Labor Day with the help of Peter Jacobsen, but the Tour gave that spot on the calendar to Boston for a tournament that will benefit the Tiger Woods Foundation.

Jacobsen's Portland-based production company will manage The Tradition.

"This is huge," said Jacobsen, a six-time PGA Tour winner who won't be eligible to play in the event until 2004, when he turns 50. "We were so pleased when this opportunity presented itself.

"We're starting a new era of golf in the state of Oregon."

Peter Jacobsen Productions manages the Reno-Tahoe Open and the two-day CVS Charity Classic in Rhode Island. He also ran the popular Fred Meyer Challenge, a two-day charity event that attracted players such as Arnold Palmer, Jack Nicklaus and Phil Mickelson.

The Tradition is one of 35 official events of the Champions Tour. Jim Thorpe won this year's event at Superstition Mountain Golf and Country Club, defeating John Jacobs on the first playoff hole.

"I know a hole in one when I see it," Portland Mayor Vera Katz said. "And I know that this is definitely an ace."

Past champions of The Tradition include Jack Nicklaus and Lee Trevino.

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