What happened to Ian Baker-Finch?
Feb 23, 1998 · After winning the 1991 British Open, Ian Baker-Finch lost his game and, in a desperate effort to find it, nearly lost his mind TABLE OF CONTENTS ORIGINAL LAYOUT
How did Baker-Finch get better at golf?
Dec 08, 2020 · Considered one of the saddest stories in golf, Ian Baker-Finch won the British Open and then boarded one of the saddest slumps in history.. so, what happened...
What happened to Matthew Baker-Finch's game?
Aug 05, 2020 · August 5th, 2020 10:54 am. Ian Baker-Finch was a major champion, a top-10 player in the world adored by fans nearly as much as the other great Aussie golfer of the era, …
Did Arnie Baker-Finch dream of hitting it at the British Open?
Jun 10, 2008 · At that point Baker-Finch, who left home at 15 to become an assistant club pro, made the decision to walk away from competition--but not the game. Today, Baker-Finch, 44, …
What nationality is Ian Baker-Finch?
Is Greg Norman a billionaire?
Is Ian Baker-Finch Australian?
How rich is John Daly?
Who is the richest caddy in golf?
Is Ian Baker-Finch an American citizen?
...
| Ian Baker-Finch | |
|---|---|
| Personal information | |
| Height | 193 cm (6 ft 4 in) |
| Sporting nationality | Australia |
| Residence | North Palm Beach, Florida, U.S. |
Who is Ian Baker?
How many green jackets does Nick Faldo have?
Who is Ian Baker-Finch?
Ian Baker-Finch was a major champion, a top-10 player in the world adored by fans nearly as much as the other great Aussie golfer of the era, Greg Norman. Baker-Finch’s triumph at the 1991 British Open wasn’t a flash in the pan either; he had three top-10 finishes at the Masters and 17 professional tournament wins across the globe.
What did Baker Finch say about the locker room?
That was the turning point,” Baker-Finch said. “I remember crying in the locker room ... I was like ‘I can’t do this, I’m not going to put myself through this again’. I didn’t play the second day. I feel bad that I did that, but I couldn’t force myself to get up and put myself through it again.”.
Who was the player who struggled to a 20 over round of 92 in the 1997 British Open?
That’s mental.”. Rock bottom came when Baker-Finch, coming off an extended injury break, travelled to the 1997 British Open with no intention of playing, only to be convinced to tee it up and see how he went. With tennis great Todd Woodbridge on his bag, Baker-Finch struggled to a whopping 20-over round of 92.
When did Baker Finch become a professional golfer?
Baker-Finch turned professional in 1979. He credits Jack Nicklaus as his greatest influence, saying that he based his game on Nicklaus' book, Golf My Way . Baker-Finch began his professional career on the PGA Tour of Australasia, winning his first professional tournament, the New Zealand Open, in 1983.
When did Baker Finch win the PGA Tour?
Baker-Finch began his professional career on the PGA Tour of Australasia, winning his first professional tournament, the New Zealand Open, in 1983 . That victory earned him an entry to The Open Championship in 1984.
Where was Baker Finch born?
Early years. Baker-Finch was born in Nambour, Queensland, Australia. He grew up in the same Queensland "neighbourhood" as fellow professional golfers Greg Norman and Wayne Grady.
Who is the greatest influence on Baker Finch?
He credits Jack Nicklaus as his greatest influence, saying that he based his game on Nicklaus' book, Golf My Way . Baker-Finch began his professional career on the PGA Tour of Australasia, winning his first professional tournament, the New Zealand Open, in 1983. That victory earned him an entry to The Open Championship in 1984.
How long was Baker Finch exempt from the PGA Tour?
Baker-Finch had a 10-year exemption from the PGA Tour for his Open Championship win, leaving him exempt until 2001. He achieved a runner-up finish in The Players Championship in 1992, but otherwise never came close to contending on the PGA Tour again.
What was the score of Baker Finch in the 1997 Open?
After shooting a 92 in the first round of the 1997 Open at Royal Troon, an extraordinarily bad score by tournament professional standards, Baker-Finch admitted that he cried in the locker room that afternoon. He withdrew from the championship after one round and retired from tournament golf.
What tournament did Baker Finch play in?
The only PGA Tour events Baker-Finch has played since the 1997 Open Championship was the 2001 MasterCard Colonial, where he missed the cut with rounds of 74 and 77, and the same tournament, now named Crowne Plaza Invitational at Colonial in 2009, again missing the cut with rounds of 68 and 78.
When did Ian Baker-Finch win the British Open?
In 1989 he won the PGA Tour Colonial tournament; in 1990 he finished 16th on the PGA Tour money list. And then in 1991 he won the British Open by shooting 64-66 over the final two rounds.
Who was Ian Baker-Finch?
Andrew Redington/Getty Images. Ian Baker-Finch was not a huge star, but he was a very solid golfer putting together a good career by 1991. In 1989 he won the PGA Tour Colonial tournament; in 1990 he finished 16th on the PGA Tour money list. And then in 1991 he won the British Open by shooting 64-66 over the final two rounds.
Who won the British Open in 1991?
Ian Baker-Finch. Ian Baker-Finch was not a huge star, but he was a very solid golfer putting together a good career by 1991. In 1989 he won the PGA Tour Colonial tournament; in 1990 he finished 16th on the PGA Tour money list. And then in 1991 he won the British Open by shooting 64-66 over the final two rounds.
Who was the best golfer in the world in 2001?
Jonathan Ferrey/Getty Images. From 1997 through 2001, David Duval was on the two or three best golfers in the game — and for a while he briefly held the No. 1 world ranking. He won 13 times in that stretch, shot a 59, won The Players Championship and the 2001 British Open. He also led the tour in money and in scoring.
Did Duval ever get his swing back?
And once he lost his swing, Duval never got it back, even when good health returned. In 2003 he missed the cut in 14 of 18 tournaments, in 2004 in six of nine tournaments. He bottomed out in 2005, missing 18 of 19 cuts on the PGA Tour.
Who is the greatest golfer?
Ralph Guldahl is, arguably, the greatest golfer that most (casual) golf fans of today have never heard of. He's in the World Golf Hall of Fame, and his collapse is truly mysterious.
How many times did Guldahl win the Western Open?
He won three straight Western Opens (1936-38) at a time when the Western Open was the equivalent of a major. In his brief PGA Tour career, Guldahl won 16 tournaments and finished second 19 times. But after his 1939 Masters victory, things quickly went south.
Overview
TV golf analyst career
After his game deserted him, Baker-Finch turned his interests to careers in broadcasting and golf course design and management. He was hired by ESPN and ABC Sports to commentate on golf tournaments in 1998, and did so until 2006. During this time, Baker-Finch served as the lead analyst for ESPN and as a hole announcer for ABC, though on many occasions he filled in as ABC's lead analyst. In 2007, he was hired by CBS Sportsas a hole announcer, a position he still h…
Early years
Baker-Finch was born in Nambour, Queensland, Australia. He grew up in the same Queensland "neighbourhood" as fellow professional golfers Greg Norman and Wayne Grady.
Professional golf career
Baker-Finch turned professional in 1979. He credits Jack Nicklaus as his greatest influence, saying that he based his game on Nicklaus' book, Golf My Way.
Baker-Finch began his professional career on the PGA Tour of Australasia, winning his first professional tournament, the New Zealand Open, in 1983. That victory earned him an entry to The Open Championshipin 1984. He would make headlines by taking the 36-hole lead, holding onto t…
Personal life
Baker-Finch and his wife, Jennie, have two daughters Hayley and Laura; they live in North Palm Beach, Florida.
Team appearances
• World Cup (representing Australia): 1985
• Four Tours World Championship (representing Australasia): 1985, 1986, 1987, 1988, 1989, 1990 (winners), 1991
• Dunhill Cup (representing Australia): 1989, 1992
See also
• List of men's major championships winning golfers
External links
• Ian Baker-Finch at the PGA Tour official site
• Ian Baker-Finch at the European Tour official site
• Ian Baker-Finch at the Japan Golf Tour official site
• Ian Baker-Finch at the Official World Golf Ranking official site