David Leadbetter said years ago: “To win now, you have to have a little bit of a bastard.” He refers to one of his most famous students.
That’s the problem, the lecturer continued. Ian Baker-Finch has no trace.
On Sunday afternoon, removed from Leadbetter’s speech for about three decades, Baker-Finch’s character once again became the subject of golf world dialogue. However, this time, his kindness is a power.
“Whether you think of Ian Baker-Finch being at home for the past three decades, I know it’s a great feeling to make him a faraway friend,” said Jim Nantz of CBS. “It’s ten times better, no matter what you think he likes it. He’s one of the great people at CBS.”
Nantz spoke from the Sedgefield Country Club, 18, at Greensboro, North Carolina, where Frontrunner Cameron Young stripped the Wyndham champion of the subpicture. While players are still competing for FedEx Cup spot, a more compelling story unfolds at the booth, where Baker-Finch sits with Nantz (and critics Trevor Immelman and Frank Nobilo) and cries tears.
If you keep up with golf headlines, you know it’s destined to be a crying broadcast. Baker-Finch announced on July 22 that this week’s game will be his last head-mounted game, marking the 30-year-long career of TV, including the last 19 years of CBS Sports, which was all guaranteed.
“I’m for the moment and pride we shared in the course. It’s a new adventure and a lasting love for golf,” Baker-Finch wrote on social media.
On Sunday, the game’s leader returns to love. Throughout the broadcast, CBS exuded a wave of kindness as Young’s lead swelled up to 9 photos. PGA Tour Commissioner Jay Monahan is one of those in trouble, and Baker-Finch becomes “a cherished voice of golf” who brings “insight, connection and love for gaming to millions.” On social media, Tiger Woods congratulated “Finchy” on matters that audiences could understand and relate to, providing us with contact. From all of us – thanks for your memories. ”
Congratulations to Finchy for 30 years after the microphone. You gain insight into what the viewer can understand and relate to. From all of us – Thank you for your memories.
— Tiger Woods (@tigerwoods) August 3, 2025
Any memory of Baker-Finch must also cover the moments of his game career, when he won the open title at Royal Birkdale to reach its peak and fall into a devastating spiral. The relaxed Australian lost the game to make the tee longer. The lows were the Legion, but nothing more noticeable than the shocking shot he hit in the 1995 open championship. Baker-Finch played with Arnold Palmer, grabbed his opening drive on the 18th fairway and stood out on the track, which would be 30 index blush. That same year, Baker-Finch endured the rankings of the most brutal season of professional golf courses ever. In 24 games, he missed each layoff, breaking only twice. He fired every four rounds in the 1980s. The former main champion has become a painful cautionary tale.
But, even as he struggled, Baker-Finch remained intimate with him, conducted interviews and signed. A farmer’s son was modestly raised in rural Australia (During Sunday’s airing, Nantz mentioned Baker-Finch not getting the first club until he was 12), and he cut his warm and modest image – a characteristic of his second career.
During his part-time job in 1995, Baker-Finch proved that he was not Johnny Miller. His vocabulary is not large. In Baker-Finch’s narrative, bad shots are more likely to be blamed for lies or bad rest than suffocating stress. Withering is not his business.
According to Golf Channel anchor Damon Hack, he isn’t just a benefit to the players. Hack said in his text to Golf.com that he has vivid memories of his first encounter with Baker-Finch on the RCB legacy of Sea Island more than a decade ago.
“I’m doing early reporting and relatively new in the tournament interview role,” Hack said. “Everyone is good, but Ian stands out. Come over and chat, just have that decent attitude towards him. The big guy who plays a big online role, but you don’t know it. He’s just a good guy who cuts it off in college. I’ve never forgotten it.”
Baker-Finch’s brothers echoed the theme at the booth during the Wyndham Championships.
“The overflow of love and respect you have received over the past two weeks is just a testament to your great man,” Immelman said.
“We are from New Zealand and Australia, we were enemies,” Nobilo added. But since the first time he crossed the age of 19, both men said, “have become good friends.”
“The most important thing is that I will miss every Saturday and Sunday, knowing that I can rely on you and your smiling face”
Heartfelt message from Amanda Balionis to Ian Baker-Finch before retirement 😊 pic.twitter.com/3ucpfddunp
– Golf on CBS (@golfoncbs) August 3, 2025
Baker-Finch made it clear when announcing his retirement that he hasn’t done it with golf. He plans to compete from time to time, occasionally taking guest broadcast roles. But Sunday still feels like a swan song. In the closing gesture, Nantz handed the phone to Baker-Finch when Cameron Young investigated a birdie putt at age 18.
Even though Young missed the putt and then hit PAR, letting Baker-Finch Little describe it in the drama, he still managed to sign a suitable sign.
“Jim, I’ve been happy all these years,” his throat swollen. “Thank you to everyone on the truck, crew, everyone in the tower. It’s my honor to be a part of this team.”
A good person to the end.
Cameron Young interview after Wyndham wins
Josh Sens
Golf.comEdit
Josh Sens is a golf, food and travel writer who has been a golf magazine contributor since 2004 and now contributes to all the golf platforms. His work is concentrated in the best sports roles in the United States. He is also a co-author of Sammy Hagar, and we had fun: Cooking and Party Manuals.
