“To win lately, you’ve acquired to have a little bit of bastard in you,” David Leadbetter mentioned a few years in the past, referring to one in all his best-known college students.
That was the issue, the teacher continued. Ian Baker-Finch didn’t have the slightest traces of that.
On Sunday afternoon, roughly three a long time faraway from Leadbetter’s remarks, Baker-Finch’s character was as soon as extra a subject of golf-world dialog. This time round, although, his kindness was celebrated as a energy.
“No matter you consider Ian Baker-Finch being in your house the final thirty years, and I do know it’s an incredible feeling having him as a good friend from far-off,” CBS’ Jim Nantz mentioned. “No matter you thought he was like, it’s ten occasions higher. He’s one of many the nice folks all of us at CBS will ever know.”
Nantz was talking from the tower behind 18 at Sedgefield Nation Membership in Greensboro, N.C. Out on the course, frontrunner Cameron Younger had stripped the Wyndham Championship of its subplots. Although gamers have been nonetheless jockeying for FedEx Cup place, the extra compelling story was unfolding within the sales space, the place Baker-Finch sat alongside Nantz (and fellow commentators Trevor Immelman and Frank Nobilo), choking again tears.
For those who sustain with golf headlines, you already know that this was certain to be a weepy broadcast. It was all however assured after Baker-Finch introduced on July 22 that this week’s event can be his final in headsets, marking the top of a 30-year profession in tv, together with the final 19 years with CBS Sports activities.
“I carry with me immense gratitude and pleasure for the moments we’ve shared on and off the course. Right here’s to new journey and the enduring love of golf,” Baker-Finch wrote on social media.
On Sunday, main figures within the sport returned that love. All through the printed, as Younger’s lead swelled to as many as 9 pictures, CBS beamed in a stream of well-wishes. PGA Tour commissioner Jay Monahan was amongst these chiming in, hailing Baker-Finch as “a cherished voice in golf” who introduced “perception, connection and a deep love of the sport to hundreds of thousands of followers.” On social media, Tiger Woods congratulated “Finchy” for shedding gentle on issues “that the viewing viewers may perceive and relate to. From all of us – thanks for the recollections.”
Congrats Finchy for 30 unbelievable years behind the microphone. You introduced perception into issues that the viewing viewers may perceive and relate to. From all of us – thanks for the recollections.
— Tiger Woods (@TigerWoods) August 3, 2025
Any full-fledged recollection of Baker-Finch should additionally cowl moments from his taking part in profession, which peaked in 1991 together with his Open Championship win at Royal Birkdale, solely to dip right into a devastating spiral. In a quest to get longer off the tee, the easy-swinging Australian misplaced his sport. The low factors have been legion, however none drew extra consideration than the surprising shot he struck on the 1995 Open Championship. Taking part in alongside Arnold Palmer, Baker-Finch snapped-hooked his opening drive throughout the 18th fairway and out of bounds on a trajectory that might have made a 30-index blush. That very same yr, Baker-Finch endured what ranks among the many cruelest seasons ever in skilled golf. In 24 tournaments, he missed each lower and broke par solely twice. He shot within the 80s as soon as in each 4 rounds. The previous main champ had change into an agonizing cautionary story.
However at the same time as he struggled, Baker-Finch retained a graciousness about him, granting interviews and signing autographs. The son of a farmer, raised modestly in rural Australia (throughout Sunday’s broadcast, Nantz talked about that Baker-Finch didn’t get his first set of golf equipment till he was 12), he lower a heat and humble profile — traits that grew to become an indicator of his second profession.
All through his broadcast run, which started with part-time stints in 1995, Baker-Finch proved himself to be no Johnny Miller. “Choking” wasn’t large in his vocabulary. In Baker-Finch’s telling, poor pictures have been extra apt to be blamed on a nasty lie or a nasty break than they have been on suffocating strain. Being withering was not his factor.
Nor was he merely good to gamers, in response to Golf Channel anchor Damon Hack. In a textual content to Golf.com, Hack mentioned that he had vivid recollections of his first encounter with Baker-Finch greater than a decade in the past on the RCB Heritage on Sea Island.
“I used to be doing early protection and was comparatively new within the event interview position,” Hack mentioned. “Everybody was good however Ian stood out. Came to visit to talk and simply had this decency about him. Huge man with an enormous community position, however you wouldn’t have recognized it. He was only a good man chopping it up with a university. I’ve by no means forgotten it.”
Through the Wyndham Championship, Baker-Finch’s brethren within the sales space echoed that theme.
“The outpouring of affection and respect that you just’ve obtained over the past two weeks is only a testomony to the nice man that you’re,” Immelman mentioned.
Added Nobilo: “We come from New Zealand and Australia, we’re meant to be enemies.” However since first crossing paths once they have been each 19, the 2 males, Nobilo famous, “have change into nice pals.”
“Most of all, I’ll miss each Saturday and Sunday figuring out I can rely on seeing you and your smiling face”
A heartfelt message from Amanda Balionis to Ian Baker-Finch forward of his retirement 😊 pic.twitter.com/3UcPFDDUnP
— Golf on CBS ⛳ (@GolfonCBS) August 3, 2025
In saying his retirement, Baker-Finch made it clear that he isn’t accomplished with golf. He plans to maintain turning up at tournaments from time to time, often in a cameo broadcast position. However Sunday nonetheless felt like a swan track. In a closing gesture, as Cameron Younger surveyed a birdie putt on 18, Nantz handed the decision to Baker-Finch.
Although Younger missed the putt, then tapped in for par, leaving Baker-Finch little in the way in which of drama to explain, he nonetheless managed a becoming log off.
“Jim, it’s been a improbable pleasure all of those years,” he mentioned, with a lump in his throat. “Because of everyone within the vans, the crew, everyone within the tower. It has been my honor to be a part of this group.”
A pleasant man to the top.
Cameron Younger interview after Wyndham win
Josh Sens
Golf.com Editor
A golf, meals and journey author, Josh Sens has been a GOLF Journal contributor since 2004 and now contributes throughout all of GOLF’s platforms. His work has been anthologized in The Finest American Sportswriting. He’s additionally the co-author, with Sammy Hagar, of Are We Having Any Enjoyable But: the Cooking and Partying Handbook.
