Ian Baker-Finch reveals how science could’ve saved career, lifts the lid on LIV, and Adam Scott’s future at the Brisbane Olympics

Ian Baker-Finch’s career was ended by one of golf’s most shattering form slumps, but one major change could have quickly ended his on-course woes. He lifts the lid on LIV Golf, and how Adam Scott could play a role at the Brisbane Olympics in 2032.

More than 4000 people tried to rescue Ian Baker-Finch from golf’s most brutal form slump but had it happened today he believes he may have been able to save himself.

“Science could have saved me, I do believe that,’’ says Baker-Finch who, with author Geoff Sanders, has just released an endearingly forthright biography To Hell and Back (Hardie Grant) which details the rise and fall and rise again of a story like no other.

Baker-Finch, 64, now a globally respected golf analyst, has experienced the best and worst the game has to offer on a journey launched in the shadow of the Glasshouse Mountains near Queensland’s Sunshine Coast on a Beerwah course built by his father and a group of local farmers.

The high point was his win in the 1991 British Open when he was nicknamed the Dark Shark in a nod to Greg “The Great White Shark’’ Norman and was arguably, at that point, the game’s best player.

A younger Ian Baker-Finch with his young daughter and the famous British Open Trophy win in 1991.

Then came the crash.

Exhausted by his post-Open commitments when he was often too nice to say no, finding shortcomings with his new clubs designed by a company best known for fishing rods, with his eyesight changing to the point where he could sometimes not see flags and trying to keep up with other players who hit longer, his body buckled under the strain of over-practising.

And his game simply fell apart.

In 1995 he missed the cut in 15 straight tournaments as his game was in “a terrible state’’ and he became “almost an object of pity’’ who would “exhaust three or four coaches at a time”.

“Everything was good until it wasn’t,’’ Baker-Finch told this masthead from his home in Miami. I’m not trying to lay off the blame. It’s all up to me. I think all up we thought it was around 4000 people reached out. At one stage it was about 100 a month.’’

“If I had the benefit of science around today with things like slow mo technology, spin rates, all we know about the shaft, the head, and all the stuff Trackman provides about the angle of the club at impact it would have been a lot easier to solve … science might have saved me because I had no idea.’’

Ian Baker-Finch estimates about 4000 people reached out to help him out of an enormous career slump, which lasted years.

The low point came when Baker-Finch hit 92 in the first round of the 1997 British Open at Troon, dissolving into tears in the dressing room.

“It was just a nightmare. It was one of those Troon days with the wind howling at forty miles an hour and I think the average score for the field in the first round on the back nine was forty. My back was hurting, and I ground it out and shot 92.”

Baker-Finch has since segued into a television commentary career where he has formed opinions about …

LIV GOLF

For golf fans around the world waiting for the American PGA and rebel LIV tours to merge Baker-Finch has some news … it won’t happen.

“They were supposed to merge a couple of years ago and still haven’t … there is no way they will ever merge,’’ he said.

“I can tell you that categorically. They are different products. The LIV people reckon they have the funds to keep do what they are doing and it will stand the test of time.

LIV and the PGA Tour are different beats. Chase Koepka is pictured celebrating a hole in one with his caddie while being showered in beer from the crowd during Liv Golf Adelaide. Picture: Getty Images

“I don’t believe it will but I am not the on putting in half a billion dollars a year. It may continue playing around the world with 54 players playing 54 holes but the PGA tour, which will always be the shining light, will be US-centric and I don’t think they will want to play a lot of tournaments around the world.

“I am good friends with all the players on the LIV tour but I just don’t see it as a very good business model given then are seven billion dollars in the hole already.’’

Baker-Finch noted that when he did the book a year ago he spoke strongly about why he felt LIV and the PGA tour will never merge “and it’s been prophetic because things haven’t changed.’’

GREAT SCOTT

Adam Scott has not yet shown an appetite to play in the Olympic Games but Baker-Finch believes he would make the ideal captain of the Australian team for the Brisbane 2032 Olympics.

The Olympic golf tournament will be played at Royal Queensland where Gold Coast raised Scott is a member.

Ian Baker-Finch believes Adam Scott could have a role to play at the Brisbane Olympics in 2028. Picture: Getty Images via AFP

Baker-Finch was captain of the Australian team upon golf’s return to the Games for the Rio Olympics in 2016 and in Tokyo (2021) before Karrie Webb took the reins in Paris.

“Adam would be a very good choice as captain for Brisbane,’’ Baker-Finch said. “Like us all he has played a lot at Royal Queensland and we have had our photos up in the change rooms and he knows the course so well.

“The Olympics are great for golf. The Olympic event is by far the biggest event in women’s golf. It doubles the ratings of the next best major. ‘’

WHAT A BALLS UP

Baker-Finch is adamant the days of short hitters like Corey Pavin, Jeff Sluman and Bill Rogers winning majors are gone for good and he wants to see the changes to the ball and driver heads to stop great courses being annihilated.

“Something must be done because tremendous old courses are being destroyed,’’ Baker-Finch said.

“The longest hitter now hits it 100 yards longer than the average drive – which is ridiculous.’’

He claims driving used to be the hardest part of the game now it is the easiest.

As for the ball, new ball rules will come in 2028 to shave 10m to 14m from the game’s biggest hitters but Baker-Finch claims the changes will be too little too late.

Originally published as Ian Baker-Finch reveals how science could’ve saved career, lifts the lid on LIV, and Adam Scott’s future at the Brisbane Olympics