Ian Baker-Finch, Connecticut And The Claret Jug

The Claret Jug made a surprise visit in Cromwell Sunday, where Open Championship spots are on the line in Sunday's Traveler's Championship.

As Brian Wacker notes, some intriguing names are in the mix, as Brian Harman leading. (BTW, nice touch on the PGATour.com leaderboard to note who is already in The Open.)

To promote the The Open, golf's oldest trophy made its way to Connecticut and surprised former Open Champion Ian Baker-Finch as he was beginning a talk to the First Tee gathering.

Brad Klein on the emotional address that followed.

Baker-Finch looked down at that the trophy that May had set down, and just as he talked about the event making him feel like part of a family, he choked up, lost his focus for a second and gave way to the tears welling up in his eyes. It was so touching to watch. The audience suddenly quieted and gave Baker-Finch a few moments to gather himself. And when it became obvious that he needed more time, the crowd stood and applauded in appreciation of how sincere and revealing a gesture they were witness to.

Comments

[Center Cut]

I'll never forget his tee shot off of the first at TOC that went 150 yards left. That was swing was one of a man not toasted or burnt out, but incinerated.

[Inside Left]

So, a nice story, about a good guy, and that's the best comment you can come up with Center?

Serious question. Do (or did) you play golf professionally?

[Chico]

His golf at Birkdale was sublime. Nice guy too. Watched him practice at Lytham for over an hour. He hit two iffy shots in that time. He then hit three of the widest tee shots I've ever seen on the first and second. Such a shame.

[BrianS]

Nice story about what seems like a very nice man.

[Center Cut]

Inside Left - it wasn't meant as an insult. When I saw the shot I just thought 'Christ, what happened there?''

No, I've never played golf professionally, in fact, in no profession have I ever had such a dispiritingly rapid decline in my professional capabilities.

Nice guy, by the way, if a little vanilla on the TV for my tastes.

[gov. lepetomane]

On television broadcasts he comes across as a sincere, kind hearted man and a gentleman. I doubt this image is not authentic.
I am happy for him to have won an Open Championship.
In his television golf reporting I wish Baker-Finch could be a little more critical in his analysis and feel he could accomplish this without appearing overly blunt or offensive. Judy Rankin seems to carry it off very well.

[Mike Clayton]

I saw Ian come back to Australia at the end of 1991 to all the dinners and speeches and he got emotional every time he spoke about winning The Open. Nothing has changed and he truly appreciates what it means to be an Open Champion - and what happened after was disappointing for all his friends but it matters little. He climbed a huge mountain.
And, he is always going to be on the side of 'vanilla' because he is such a genuinely nice man reluctant to criticise anybody.

[gaelgowfer]

I like vanilla.

Well done the fans though. I think if somebody plonked a trophy down beside me that goes all the way back to 1872 and which had my name on it, I'd be overcome with emotion too.

What a great idea to take the Claret Jug to the USA. Such a tangible icon will hopefully inspire up and coming American pros to want to add the 'Open' experience to their golfing CVs.

[Pro from Dover]

IBF is a fine gentleman.....know him, shared his company, and always enjoyed him. In a very early morning round of golf with, Kostis and McCord at a course near Quail Hollow prior to "going on the air" a few years back, IBF shot as smooth a 66 you have ever seen - from over 7000 yards on a very good track. Did not miss one shot, his driver was always in play, and his iron-play was as sharp as you could imagine. And he rolled the rock like the old days. And humble, yes, he was very humble.

[D. maculata]

Thank you for sharing the IBF moment, Pro. Every Shackelfordian, as KLG would say, should be so lucky.

[jjshaka]

Very nice story, Pro.
I can't recall anyone with a bad word against him.
You could do worse in life.

[The Moderator]

Melvyn, Do notice your drivel has been eliminated

[ol Harv]

"I'll never forget his tee shot off of the first at TOC that went 150 yards left."

Center Cut, it was the visor falling off while in mid-swing that caused it....

[RM]

Beautiful story, and I see no good reason to bring up IBF's downfall in this comment thread.

There should be no shame in golf at any level. IBF is a "Champion", not a "Champion Who Later Hit A Duck Hook At The Old Course".

Look at Tiger, or Dustin for that matter, as proof of what a cruel game golf can be. I applaud IBF that he was able to gracefully retreat from competition, and find a new career path in golf. He is a credit to the game.

[jjshaka]

As ol' Harv has said, if you have a working set of eyes it's obvious why he snapped it....it just became a convenient signature moment for his game falling apart.
Deserves better than that one moment.

[Easingwold]

The first time I took notice of IBF was when he was in the last group with Tom Watson in the '84 Open at St Andrews, when he hit his second shot at the first into the burn. He paired up with Faldo six years later, then won the following year. I was happy he won at Birkdale. Couldn't think of a more humble champion.

[Center Cut]

@ Mike Clayton ref. Vanilla commentators.

I appreciate IBF is a decent man. But if I want platitudes, I'll go to Fox and the Shark or Notah or some other talking head.

Regardless of what we do, we have to do it to the best possible criteria and most self-critical.

And Mike, before you start, I'm an Aussie. I know the way the heat is applied that this e that do not - hence my anticipation at the Ashes this week.

[St. Copious]

Melvyn = Alan from Hangover.

[digsouth]

It is no secret that I am not a fan of IBF as a commentator, but I only say that to emphasize how sincere I am in praising IBF, the golfer, whose name is on the Rife putter I use.

A toast to a great golfer, and a salute to the audience who were perceptive enough to let the moment unfold.

Once a champion, always a champion.

Ian, you are a Champion.

[Johnnnycz]

My only close up experience with IBF was in '94 or '95 when he did an exhibition in southern AB. Paradise Canyon GC iirc. He was into his full swing slump(yip) phase...yet up until that point in my golfing life I had NEVER seen such beautiful and controlled iron shots and a smoother putting stroke with a good ole Anser2.

He was very nice and accommodating to everyone there. A true gentleman who happened to play golf for a living. Funny too when he joked with other people. He def didn't think the world revolved around him unlike what we see more and more these days.

Good story and YES...great idea bringing the Claret Jug across the pond.

[Sun Mountain Man]

Several years ago Guy Yocum did a fascinating interview with IBF for Golf Digest. I remember him saying that he always fought the hook off the tee so he would go hit 200 drivers on the range and never hook one. He would then go to the first tee and hook it OB. Same with chipping, he would practice chipping for a couple hours and never hit a lousy one but then would go play and stick one right in the ground.
I also remember IBF asking his caddie on the flight home from Birkdale "Do you think me winning this was a fluke?"

You can likely google the interview. It's well worth it - fascinating stuff.

It's obviously all mental......tough game.

[Mike Clayton]

Centre Cut

I too wish he would offer a little more - and I know he can because I've heard it He hardly made himself popular with Metro members where is called the ridiculous trees on the 17th fairway 'ridiculous' on the telecast.

Ol harv

I saw that tee shot off 1 in the 1995 Open. His visor came off after he hit the ball because his head was so far back and still down - the opposite of Annika who had it up before she hit the ball. His club had gotten so far inside and underneath the plane - which is why he finished up with the driver yips. I'll see if I can dig the shot up on you tube.

[Mike Clayton]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=66eCwhzb8rA

[DTF]

"in no profession have I ever had such a dispiritingly rapid decline in my professional capabilities."

Tough to fall far when you never get past the bottom rung in the first place.

CC, what did you think of the Dustin Johnson caddie related comments in State Of The Game #58?

[Center Cut]

Thank you for those few kind words, Del. I have not listened to it yet, but will do later this week - however to try to combat your slightly obsessional way of wanting to be proven right in every thread, I doubt if I'll respond though - something about 'two bald men fighting over a comb' springs to mind whenever I am drawn into an internet squabble.

[ol Harv]

Mike, absolutely. I was just kidding about the visor.

[Abu Dhabi Golfer]

Mike Clayton - either by design or by accident, at least Channel 9 has Wayne Grady to balance off IBF.

[DTF]

CC...you asked a question, trying to give you an answer....doesn't sound like you are interested in getting to an answer.