Peter Jacobsen (Born March 4, 1954) is the state's most recognizable golf athlete and personality. His career branched out into event management and television commentary.
Jacobsen graduated of Lincoln High School. He polished his game at Waverly Golf Club and already had a hole in one at age 14. Peter won the 1972 OSAA state championship after finishing second the year before.
At the University of Oregon, Jake was a three-time All-American and won the Pac-8 Conference golf title in 1974. Peter won the Oregon Amateur title in 1976 and then turned pro. His first achievement? Qualifying on his first attempt at Q-school!
His first pro titles were the Oregon and Northern California Opens. He won seven PGA tour events: the Buick-Goodwrench Open in 1980; Colonial National Invitation in 1984; as well as the Sammy Davis-Greater Hartford Open also in 1984; the Bob Hope Chrysler Classic in 1990; AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro-Am in 1995; and the Buick Invitational of California also in 1995. Jacobsen made a strong comeback from injury in 2003, winning his last tour event at the Greater Hartford Open. On the senior tour he won two majors, the 2004 U.S. Senior Open and the 2005 Senior Players Championship. All of that following hip surgery.
Jacobsen played for the U.S. National Team versus Japan in 1984, twice represented the U.S. Ryder Cup team in 1985 and 1995, and played the Dunhill Cup in 1995.
Peter Jacobsen also has had great success as an entrepreneur and commentator. Peter Jacobsen Sports managed several professional events and produced the long-running Fred Meyer Challenge which brought together the biggest names in the sport to Portland for a three-day charity event that featured golf and music in a laid-back atmosphere. "Peter's Party" was the place to be every July for 17 years.
He is also a popular commentator and analyst for numerous televised golf competitions, including Skins games and Ryder Cup matches. His Jacobsen-Hardy Golf Design company has co-designed a number of golf courses, including The Oregon Golf Club in West Linn. He co-authored the book “Buried Lies: True Tales and Tall Stories from the PGA Tour”. His band, Jake Trout and the Flounders, with Peter on lead vocals and guitar, was a regular at tour functions.
Peter Jacobsen was inducted into the University of Oregon Athletic Hall of Fame in 1993. He has received Comeback Player of the Year Awards from both the PGA and Champions tours and the Francis Ouimet, Old Tom Morris and Payne Stewart awards. His media work received the 2022 Jim Murray Award from the Golf Writers Association of America.