New sponsor may drop `Western Open' name

How does this sound: The Tostitos Open at Cog Hill? Or maybe theHefty Classic?

Times change, and so might the name of the Western Open. For onemore year, it is the Motorola Western Open. But Motorola has decidednot to sponsor the event next year. And tournament officials havetold potential sponsors they are willing to drop the name "WesternOpen," which has survived since 1899.

"We've had conversations with several companies about dropping thename," tournament director Greg McLaughlin said Wednesday. "Somecompanies are adamant they would want the name dropped. Others areadamant they want it to stay, that it has equity in the tournament."It's certainly been discussed. …