It was supposed to be a “dry run,” according to Jim Nantz.
But by the time Ian Baker-Finch stepped into the booth between Nantz and Trevor Immelman to deliver a farewell to the CBS Golf team and the greater golf world, everybody in Minnesota knew the truth. The dry run?
“It was impossible,” Nantz said.
Baker-Finch, a softie by heart, was staring down the chute at his most difficult assignment yet: A goodbye to the CBS Golf family — and the viewers at home — after 19 years in the booth. He was calling the final round from the 3M Open, his penultimate assignment as a broadcaster, just days after announcing his retirement from CBS. And after the network played a montage of Baker-Finch’s finest moments in the booth, the likelihood of avoiding tears went from slim to none.
As the cameras returned to Baker-Finch, Nantz and Immelman in the booth, the retiring broadcaster was glassy-eyed as he made his first attempt at a goodbye.
“I’ll miss it as well, I’ll miss all of you. It’s been a great run though…” he said, his voice trailing off as tears welled in his eyes.
“I’ve had not only the 19 years at CBS but 30 years in total [on TV],” Baker-Finch said. “I had to get some injuries fixed back in ’96 and stopped playing. Went home and did TV at home at Australia. Did 12 events straight with 4 different producers, on 4 different teams and I was actually quite competent. And then [legendary ABC Sports producer] Jack Graham back in the States said, ‘Hey, if you don’t come back to golf I’d love you to come work to us.’ So it’s now been 30 years I’ve been doing television.”
As Baker-Finch looked back upon three decades in golf TV — the last 19 as a “tower announcer” with CBS — he reflected upon the passion that drew him to continue with the sport even after his playing career endured years of psychological challenge. The unifying theory, Baker-Finch said, was simple: Love.
“I love it, I love the game,” he said. “You guys and girls and all the team know it. I think Colt says it all the time, no one loves the game more than Finchy, and I do. I love the team here. It’s not just a team, it’s not just a network, it’s a family here at CBS, and I’ll miss everybody.”
Baker-Finch’s passion made him a compelling broadcaster, and in an ironic twist, his life as a compelling broadcaster extended his legacy as a player. The decision to leave the booth had been hard on Baker-Finch, 64, not least because it meant stepping aside from his connection to golf’s fans.
“I really will miss calling those moments to the fans at home, because the fans are what we’re here for,” Baker-Finch said. “We’re here for you, we’re here to entertain you, we’re here to bring you the pictures. We bring you live golf from all these beautiful venues around the country and around the world. This moment, I’ll just miss being in your homes every weekend.”
Baker-Finch teared up again as he finished his farewell — a fitting sentiment from the man who elected to forego a retirement tour in favor of a quiet announcement on the Tuesday after Open Championship week. He would have one more week in the booth at the Wyndham Championship for CBS before drifting into the sunset, and perhaps one more tearful farewell from the CBS Sports crew.
“We’re going to miss you big-time pal,” Nantz said. “We congratulate you on a 40-year run. We know there’s other things you will do and respect that. It was a personal decision, and we honor that, and we honor you my friend.”
