The Dark Shark

Ian Baker-Finch, aka 'IBF' or the ‘Dark Shark’ as he was once referred to in his native Australia, has hit the half ton having celebrated his fiftieth birthday towards the end of last year. HK Golfer met up with the 1991 Open Champion following his Australian Senior Open debut to discuss his plans for 2011 – both on and off the course

The ‘Finchy’ we now know is the classy commentator for CBS Sports on the PGA Tour for 25 weeks of the year. Back in the Dark Shark days, he was busy making his mark on the international golf scene armed with a willowy swing and a short game and putting touch to die for. His tall, dark features and engaging personality also had female fans of all ages shooting more than furtive glances in his general direction.
Sadly, Baker-Finch’s golf career which saw him garner 17 international victories on four separate tours, a top 10 world ranking and a brilliant victory in the 1991 Open Championship at Royal Birkdale, is perhaps unfairly remembered for a prolonged form slump through the mid- to late-90s that saw a run of missed cuts and high scores. These demons ultimately lead to him stepping down from active play after a disastrous first round at the 1997 Open at Royal Troon.
In the time that has elapsed, Baker-Finch has restored his love for the game and enough faith in his form to make an appearance on the PGA Tour as a former champion at the 2009 Crowne Plaza Invitational at Colonial, where a first round 68 demonstrated to all that the guy can still play Aside from this, his public appearances had been limited to occasions like The Masters Par 3 Tournament and a few pro-ams at the back end of each year on his return Down Under.

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