Kickbacks
NOBBY PILES
Among the throng of television commentators attending this week's (British) Open has been Australia's Ian Baker-Finch, who won the coveted claret jug at Royal Birkdale back in 1991.
Baker-Finch probably has mixed feelings about the daunting Lancashire links course, as it marks the scene of his greatest triumph, but also the prelude to a personal golfing nightmare.
In the season he won the Open at Royal Birkdale in reasonably comfortable fashion, he also had three runner-up finishes and at the age of 30 everything looked rosy. Little did he know what was in store for him in the coming years.
What happened to Baker-Finch's career after that high point has been well documented. If it wasn't total meltdown, it was a classic slump that he was never able to extricate himself from.
Even shortly after his 1991 victory he admitted to having self-doubts on the final day at Royal Birkdale: "When I got four or five ahead I thought, 'Boy, you'd better not stuff up now or you'll really cop it."'
He did not want to be thought of as a choker and no doubt had in mind the 1984 Open at St Andrews. He had been leading the field after three rounds but then shot a horrible 79 on the final day to finish ninth. Seve Ballesteros went on to win the title.
The mental anguish suffered by a top golfer going through a slump is difficult to imagine. Only four years after his triumph at Royal Birkdale, Baker-Finch, his confidence totally shattered, found himself on the first tee at the 1995 Open championship at St Andrews paired with the great Arnold Palmer. A huge gallery awaited the opening tee shots. Nervous as a kitten, Baker-Finch produced a horrible hook that sailed across the adjacent 18th fairway.
A few years ago he recalled his feelings at that moment: "What now, I remember thinking, thunderbolts striking me? There I am at St Andrews, playing with 'the King' and I knock it out of bounds at the first. That was tough."
Even 13 years later he gets asked about that one shot, and this year was no different. In an interview with PGA.com this week he said: "It really wasn't that bad a shot. It was just into a strong wind, I was nervous playing with Arnie, my hat fell off when the wind blew and I hit a hook that hit the 18th fairway and went OB."
Unfortunately for Baker-Finch it was a shot he became remembered for. Even worse, in the ensuing years his golfing career disintegrated before the world.
In 1995-96 he failed to make the cut in 32 straight tournaments.The end came after he shot a frightful 92 in the first round of the 1997 Open at Royal Troon and withdrew in total despair.
Looking back on his career, he told PGA.com that the 92 at Royal Troon was his lowest point. He hadn't been planning to play but was persuaded to by well-meaning friends and colleagues who had seen him in practice and thought he looked fine.
"It was probably a bad decision but not one that haunts me," he said.
When he finally hung up his clubs in 1998 it was a huge burden off his back and brought a sigh of relief from just about everyone connected with golf. Rather like Greg Norman's disintegration in the 1996 Masters, it had been painful to watch.
Baker-Finch blamed his decline partly on trying to lengthen his drive. He was forever tinkering with his swing and began hooking wildly. He told Golf Digest magazine; "I was wearing myself out mentally on the course, physically on the range."
To his credit, throughout his slide he managed to maintain a sense of humour. After winning the claret jug he was of course in considerable demand and was pursued by eager fans seeking autographs. Commenting on the length of time he spent signing his double-barrelled name he commented: "Sometimes I wish my name was Tom Kite."
Fortunately Baker-Finch has proved there is life after golf _ more golf to be precise. Except now it is as a respected golf commentator and he has enjoyed a successful career with ABC, CBS and TNT as well as being involved in course design.
Asked in 1998 what he planned for the future after he quit playing, he simply commented: "What I want is to be obscure and happy."
Well, being a television commentator is not exactly obscurity, but at least he sounds like a happy commentator.
And he still plays golf regularly _ but only with friends and only for fun.
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