Ian Baker-Finch
Updated: 12/20/2025, 12:29:29 PM Wikipedia source
Ian Michael Baker-Finch (born 24 October 1960) is an Australian golfer and sports commentator best known for winning The Open Championship in 1991.
Infobox
Full name
Ian Michael Baker-Finch
Nickname
Finchy, The Dark Shark, IBF
Born
(1960-10-24) 24 October 1960 (age 65)Nambour, Queensland, Australia
Height
193 cm (6 ft 4 in)
Sporting nationality
Australia
Residence
North Palm Beach, Florida, U.S.
Turned professional
1979
Former tours
PGA TourEuropean TourJapan Golf TourPGA Tour of Australasia
Professional wins
17
Highest ranking
10 (29 September 1991)
PGA Tour
2
European Tour
2
Japan Golf Tour
3
PGA Tour of Australasia
10
Other
1
Masters Tournament
T6: 1992
PGA Championship
T34: 1989
U.S. Open
T13: 1992
The Open Championship
Won: 1991
Tables
· Professional wins (17) › PGA Tour wins (2)
Major championships (1)
Major championships (1)
Legend
Major championships (1)
Other PGA Tour (1)
Other PGA Tour (1)
Legend
Other PGA Tour (1)
| Legend |
| Major championships (1) |
| Other PGA Tour (1) |
· Professional wins (17) › PGA Tour wins (2)
Southwestern Bell Colonial
Southwestern Bell Colonial
No.
1
Date
21 May 1989
Tournament
Southwestern Bell Colonial
Winning score
−10 (65-70-65-70=270)
Margin ofvictory
4 strokes
Runner-up
David Edwards
The Open Championship
The Open Championship
No.
2
Date
21 Jul 1991
Tournament
The Open Championship
Winning score
−8 (71-71-64-66=272)
Margin ofvictory
2 strokes
Runner-up
Mike Harwood
| No. | Date | Tournament | Winning score | Margin ofvictory | Runner-up |
| 1 | 21 May 1989 | Southwestern Bell Colonial | −10 (65-70-65-70=270) | 4 strokes | David Edwards |
| 2 | 21 Jul 1991 | The Open Championship | −8 (71-71-64-66=272) | 2 strokes | Mike Harwood |
· Professional wins (17) › PGA Tour wins (2)
New England Classic
New England Classic
No.
1
Year
1991
Tournament
New England Classic
Opponent
Bruce Fleisher
Result
Lost to birdie on seventh extra hole
| No. | Year | Tournament | Opponent | Result |
| 1 | 1991 | New England Classic | Bruce Fleisher | Lost to birdie on seventh extra hole |
· Professional wins (17) › European Tour wins (2)
Major championships (1)
Major championships (1)
Legend
Major championships (1)
Other European Tour (1)
Other European Tour (1)
Legend
Other European Tour (1)
| Legend |
| Major championships (1) |
| Other European Tour (1) |
· Professional wins (17) › European Tour wins (2)
Scandinavian Enterprise Open
Scandinavian Enterprise Open
No.
1
Date
4 Aug 1985
Tournament
Scandinavian Enterprise Open
Winning score
−14 (68-72-68-66=274)
Margin ofvictory
2 strokes
Runner-up
Graham Marsh
The Open Championship
The Open Championship
No.
2
Date
21 Jul 1991
Tournament
The Open Championship
Winning score
−8 (71-71-64-66=272)
Margin ofvictory
2 strokes
Runner-up
Mike Harwood
| No. | Date | Tournament | Winning score | Margin ofvictory | Runner-up |
| 1 | 4 Aug 1985 | Scandinavian Enterprise Open | −14 (68-72-68-66=274) | 2 strokes | Graham Marsh |
| 2 | 21 Jul 1991 | The Open Championship | −8 (71-71-64-66=272) | 2 strokes | Mike Harwood |
· Professional wins (17) › European Tour wins (2)
Bell's Scottish Open
Bell's Scottish Open
No.
1
Year
1986
Tournament
Bell's Scottish Open
Opponents
David Feherty, Christy O'Connor Jnr
Result
Feherty won with birdie on second extra hole
| No. | Year | Tournament | Opponents | Result |
| 1 | 1986 | Bell's Scottish Open | David Feherty, Christy O'Connor Jnr | Feherty won with birdie on second extra hole |
· Professional wins (17) › PGA of Japan Tour wins (3)
Polaroid Cup Golf Digest Tournament
Polaroid Cup Golf Digest Tournament
No.
1
Date
18 Oct 1987
Tournament
Polaroid Cup Golf Digest Tournament
Winning score
−9 (74-67-68-66=275)
Margin ofvictory
4 strokes
Runner-up
Kazushige Kono
Pocari Sweat Open
Pocari Sweat Open
No.
2
Date
10 Apr 1988
Tournament
Pocari Sweat Open
Winning score
−7 (73-68-66-70=277)
Margin ofvictory
2 strokes
Runner-up
Graham Marsh
Bridgestone Aso Open
Bridgestone Aso Open
No.
3
Date
17 Apr 1988
Tournament
Bridgestone Aso Open
Winning score
−6 (75-73-68-66=282)
Margin ofvictory
1 stroke
Runner-up
Tadami Ueno
| No. | Date | Tournament | Winning score | Margin ofvictory | Runner-up |
| 1 | 18 Oct 1987 | Polaroid Cup Golf Digest Tournament | −9 (74-67-68-66=275) | 4 strokes | Kazushige Kono |
| 2 | 10 Apr 1988 | Pocari Sweat Open | −7 (73-68-66-70=277) | 2 strokes | Graham Marsh |
| 3 | 17 Apr 1988 | Bridgestone Aso Open | −6 (75-73-68-66=282) | 1 stroke | Tadami Ueno |
· Professional wins (17) › PGA Tour of Australasia wins (10)
New Zealand Open
New Zealand Open
No.
1
Date
27 Nov 1983
Tournament
New Zealand Open
Winning score
E (71-66-72-71=280)
Margin ofvictory
3 strokes
Runner(s)-up
Stuart Reese
Town and Country WA-RAC Western Australian Open
Town and Country WA-RAC Western Australian Open
No.
2
Date
13 May 1984
Tournament
Town and Country WA-RAC Western Australian Open
Winning score
−16 (70-67-67-68=272)
Margin ofvictory
4 strokes
Runner(s)-up
Terry Gale
National Panasonic New South Wales Open
National Panasonic New South Wales Open
No.
3
Date
21 Oct 1984
Tournament
National Panasonic New South Wales Open
Winning score
−15 (69-70-68-70=277)
Margin ofvictory
13 strokes
Runner(s)-up
Peter Senior
Coca-Cola Queensland PGA Championship
Coca-Cola Queensland PGA Championship
No.
4
Date
16 Dec 1984
Tournament
Coca-Cola Queensland PGA Championship
Winning score
−3 (69-74-70-72=285)
Margin ofvictory
1 stroke
Runner(s)-up
Ossie Moore
Victorian Open
Victorian Open
No.
5
Date
10 Feb 1985
Tournament
Victorian Open
Winning score
−9 (73-65-72-69=279)
Margin ofvictory
2 strokes
Runner(s)-up
Rodger Davis
Robert Boyd Transport Australian Match Play Championship
Robert Boyd Transport Australian Match Play Championship
No.
6
Date
8 Feb 1987
Tournament
Robert Boyd Transport Australian Match Play Championship
Winning score
5 and 4
Margin ofvictory
Ossie Moore
Australian Masters
Australian Masters
No.
7
Date
21 Feb 1988
Tournament
Australian Masters
Winning score
−9 (69-70-71-73=283)
Margin ofvictory
Playoff
Runner(s)-up
Roger Mackay, Craig Parry
Coolum Classic
Coolum Classic
No.
8
Date
16 Dec 1990
Tournament
Coolum Classic
Winning score
−17 (66-67-67-71=271)
Margin ofvictory
5 strokes
Runner(s)-up
Stephen Bennett, Rodger Davis
Vines Classic
Vines Classic
No.
9
Date
26 Jan 1992
Tournament
Vines Classic
Winning score
−12 (71-67-66-72=276)
Margin ofvictory
1 stroke
Runner(s)-up
Jeff Maggert, Frank Nobilo
Ford Australian PGA Championship
Ford Australian PGA Championship
No.
10
Date
22 Nov 1993
Tournament
Ford Australian PGA Championship
Winning score
−9 (69-69-73-64=275)
Margin ofvictory
Playoff
Runner(s)-up
Peter Fowler, Grant Waite
| No. | Date | Tournament | Winning score | Margin ofvictory | Runner(s)-up |
| 1 | 27 Nov 1983 | New Zealand Open | E (71-66-72-71=280) | 3 strokes | Stuart Reese |
| 2 | 13 May 1984 | Town and Country WA-RAC Western Australian Open | −16 (70-67-67-68=272) | 4 strokes | Terry Gale |
| 3 | 21 Oct 1984 | National Panasonic New South Wales Open | −15 (69-70-68-70=277) | 13 strokes | Peter Senior |
| 4 | 16 Dec 1984 | Coca-Cola Queensland PGA Championship | −3 (69-74-70-72=285) | 1 stroke | Ossie Moore |
| 5 | 10 Feb 1985 | Victorian Open | −9 (73-65-72-69=279) | 2 strokes | Rodger Davis |
| 6 | 8 Feb 1987 | Robert Boyd Transport Australian Match Play Championship | 5 and 4 | Ossie Moore | |
| 7 | 21 Feb 1988 | Australian Masters | −9 (69-70-71-73=283) | Playoff | Roger Mackay, Craig Parry |
| 8 | 16 Dec 1990 | Coolum Classic | −17 (66-67-67-71=271) | 5 strokes | Stephen Bennett, Rodger Davis |
| 9 | 26 Jan 1992 | Vines Classic | −12 (71-67-66-72=276) | 1 stroke | Jeff Maggert, Frank Nobilo |
| 10 | 22 Nov 1993 | Ford Australian PGA Championship | −9 (69-69-73-64=275) | Playoff | Peter Fowler, Grant Waite |
· Professional wins (17) › PGA Tour of Australasia wins (10)
Victorian PGA Championship
Victorian PGA Championship
No.
1
Year
1984
Tournament
Victorian PGA Championship
Opponent(s)
Wayne Riley
Result
Lost to birdie on second extra hole
Australian Masters
Australian Masters
No.
2
Year
1988
Tournament
Australian Masters
Opponent(s)
Roger Mackay, Craig Parry
Result
Won with birdie on first extra hole
Ford Australian PGA Championship
Ford Australian PGA Championship
No.
3
Year
1993
Tournament
Ford Australian PGA Championship
Opponent(s)
Peter Fowler, Grant Waite
Result
Won with birdie on second extra hole
| No. | Year | Tournament | Opponent(s) | Result |
| 1 | 1984 | Victorian PGA Championship | Wayne Riley | Lost to birdie on second extra hole |
| 2 | 1988 | Australian Masters | Roger Mackay, Craig Parry | Won with birdie on first extra hole |
| 3 | 1993 | Ford Australian PGA Championship | Peter Fowler, Grant Waite | Won with birdie on second extra hole |
· Major championships › Wins (1)
1991
1991
Year
1991
Championship
The Open Championship
54 holes
Tied for lead
Winning score
−8 (71-71-64-66=272)
Margin
2 strokes
Runner-up
Mike Harwood
| Year | Championship | 54 holes | Winning score | Margin | Runner-up |
| 1991 | The Open Championship | Tied for lead | −8 (71-71-64-66=272) | 2 strokes | Mike Harwood |
· Major championships › Results timeline
Masters Tournament
Masters Tournament
Tournament
Masters Tournament
1985
CUT
1990
CUT
1991
T7
1992
T6
1993
T54
1994
T10
1995
CUT
1996
CUT
U.S. Open
U.S. Open
Tournament
U.S. Open
1991
T44
1992
T13
1993
T19
1994
CUT
1995
CUT
1996
CUT
The Open Championship
The Open Championship
Tournament
The Open Championship
1984
T9
1985
T20
1986
CUT
1987
CUT
1988
CUT
1989
T30
1990
T6
1991
1
1992
T19
1993
T70
1994
CUT
1995
CUT
1996
CUT
1997
WD
PGA Championship
PGA Championship
Tournament
PGA Championship
1989
T34
1990
T57
1991
CUT
1992
T69
1993
66
1994
CUT
1995
CUT
| Tournament | 1984 | 1985 | 1986 | 1987 | 1988 | 1989 | 1990 | 1991 | 1992 | 1993 | 1994 | 1995 | 1996 | 1997 |
| Masters Tournament | CUT | CUT | T7 | T6 | T54 | T10 | CUT | CUT | ||||||
| Open | T44 | T13 | T19 | CUT | CUT | CUT | ||||||||
| The Open Championship | T9 | T20 | CUT | CUT | CUT | T30 | T6 | 1 | T19 | T70 | CUT | CUT | CUT | WD |
| PGA Championship | T34 | T57 | CUT | T69 | 66 | CUT | CUT |
· Major championships › Summary
Masters Tournament
Masters Tournament
Tournament
Masters Tournament
Wins
0
2nd
0
3rd
0
Top-5
0
Top-10
3
Top-25
3
Events
8
Cuts made
4
U.S. Open
U.S. Open
Tournament
U.S. Open
Wins
0
2nd
0
3rd
0
Top-5
0
Top-10
0
Top-25
2
Events
6
Cuts made
3
The Open Championship
The Open Championship
Tournament
The Open Championship
Wins
1
2nd
0
3rd
0
Top-5
1
Top-10
3
Top-25
5
Events
14
Cuts made
7
PGA Championship
PGA Championship
Tournament
PGA Championship
Wins
0
2nd
0
3rd
0
Top-5
0
Top-10
0
Top-25
0
Events
7
Cuts made
4
Totals
Totals
Tournament
Totals
Wins
1
2nd
0
3rd
0
Top-5
1
Top-10
6
Top-25
10
Events
35
Cuts made
18
| Tournament | Wins | 2nd | 3rd | Top-5 | Top-10 | Top-25 | Events | Cuts made |
| Masters Tournament | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 8 | 4 |
| Open | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 6 | 3 |
| The Open Championship | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 5 | 14 | 7 |
| PGA Championship | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 4 |
| Totals | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 6 | 10 | 35 | 18 |
· Results in The Players Championship
The Players Championship
The Players Championship
Tournament
The Players Championship
1989
CUT
1990
T46
1991
T41
1992
T2
1993
T39
1994
T69
1995
WD
1996
CUT
| Tournament | 1989 | 1990 | 1991 | 1992 | 1993 | 1994 | 1995 | 1996 |
| The Players Championship | CUT | T46 | T41 | T2 | T39 | T69 | WD | CUT |
References
- incorporating the Queensland Open.
- pga.org.auhttps://web.archive.org/web/20140201162807/http://www.pga.org.au/playerprofile
- "Week 39 1991 Ending 29 Sep 1991"http://www.owgr.com/archive/PastRankings/1991/owgr39f1991.pdf
- Viacom CBS Press Expresshttps://www.cbspressexpress.com/cbs-sports/shows/golf-on-cbs/bios?id=ian-baker-finch
- "Media Guide"http://www.pgatour.com/players/player.01049.ian-baker-finch.html/media-guide/#uber
- "Ian Baker-Finch bio"https://web.archive.org/web/20101126171402/http://www.golflegends.org/ian-baker-finch.php
- "69 Players Who Have Reached The Top-10 in World Ranking"https://web.archive.org/web/20151017160152/http://dps.endavadigital.net/owgr/doc/content/2007
- Golf Digesthttps://web.archive.org/web/20090602202046/http://www.golfdigest.com/magazine/interviews/2007/06/mcdaniel_bakerfinch0501
- "Baker-Finch can sympathise with Duval"http://www.golftoday.co.uk/news/yeartodate/news03/duval11.html
- "Ian Baker-Finch bio from his official site"https://web.archive.org/web/20110122045148/http://ianbakerfinch.com/bio/
- "Ian Baker-Finch isn't saying goodbye to golf – he's redesigning it"https://www.pgatour.com/article/news/latest/2025/08/03/whats-next-for-ian-baker-finch-cbs-broadcaster-retirement-golf-course-design
- Golf.comhttps://web.archive.org/web/20081204131025/http://www.golf.com/golf/tours_news/article/0,28136,1656384,00.html
- "Ian Baker-Finch"https://honours.pmc.gov.au/honours/awards/975409
- qsport.org.auhttp://www.qsport.org.au/qshof/biography.asp?ID=20