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  • Age
  • Turned Pro
    1979
  • Previous Opens
    14
  • CHAMPION GOLFER OF THE YEAR
    1991

Ian Baker-Finch

Baker-Finch-Ian-2
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Baker-Finch fired closing rounds of 64 and 66 to finish two clear of fellow Australian Mike Harwood at Royal Birkdale in 1991 and secure his sole major title in style.
Baker-Finch-Ian
  • The Dark Shark

    Nickname

  • 1997

    last played the open

Ian Baker-Finch fired closing rounds of 64 and 66 to finish two clear of fellow Australian Mike Harwood at Royal Birkdale in 1991 and secure his sole major title in style.

A regular challenger at The Open, he made his Championship debut at St Andrews in 1984, a year after capturing his first professional title at the New Zealand Open, and stunned the golfing world by leading after the second and third rounds.

There was no fairytale ending as he slumped to a closing 79 on the day when Seve Ballesteros out-gunned Tom Watson for arguably his finest-ever victory, but six years later and back at the Home of Golf - with wins on both sides of the Atlantic behind him – Baker-Finch fired a third-round 64 to claim a share of second place.

Nick Faldo triumphed that year, but 12 months on the Queenslander stormed through from 28th place at halfway. He was sixth at The Masters and second at the Players Championship the following season, but then suffered a horrendous slump in fortunes and last appeared in The Open in 1997. He has since carved out a highly successful career as a television commentator.

Venue
Finish
R1
R2
R3
R4
Total
Par
Royal Troon 1997
WD
92
-
-
-
-
M/C
Royal Lytham & St Annes 1996
M/C
78
84
-
-
-
M/C
St Andrews 1995
M/C
77
76
-
-
-
M/C
Turnberry 1994
M/C
73
77
-
-
-
M/C
Royal St George's 1993
70
73
69
67
80
289
-
Muirfield 1992
19
71
71
72
68
282
-
Royal Birkdale 1991
1
71
71
64
66
272
-
St Andrews 1990
6
68
72
64
73
277
-
Royal Troon 1989
30
72
69
70
75
286
-
Royal Lytham & St Annes 1988
M/C
76
73
-
-
-
M/C
Muirfield 1987
M/C
74
76
-
-
-
M/C
Turnberry 1986
M/C
86
69
-
-
-
M/C
Royal St George's 1985
20
71
73
74
70
288
-
St Andrews 1984
9
68
66
71
79
284
-

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