{"id":32624,"date":"2025-07-29T20:22:10","date_gmt":"2025-07-29T20:22:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/32624\/"},"modified":"2025-07-29T20:22:10","modified_gmt":"2025-07-29T20:22:10","slug":"ian-baker-finch-gives-tearful-farewell-to-cbs-golf","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/32624\/","title":{"rendered":"Ian Baker-Finch gives tearful farewell to CBS Golf"},"content":{"rendered":"

It was supposed to be a \u201cdry run,\u201d according to Jim Nantz.<\/a><\/p>\n

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<\/a> and the greater golf world, everybody in Minnesota knew the truth. The dry run?<\/p>\n

\u201cIt was impossible,\u201d Nantz said.<\/p>\n

Baker-Finch, a softie by heart, was staring down the chute at his most difficult assignment yet: A goodbye to the CBS Golf family \u2014 and the viewers at home \u2014 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<\/a>. And after the network played a montage of Baker-Finch\u2019s finest moments in the booth, the likelihood of avoiding tears went from slim to none.<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019ll miss it as well, I\u2019ll miss all of you. It\u2019s been a great run though\u2026\u201d he said, his voice trailing off as tears welled in his eyes.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019ve had not only the 19 years at CBS but 30 years in total [on TV],\u201d Baker-Finch said. \u201cI had to get some injuries fixed back in \u201996 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, \u2018Hey, if you don\u2019t come back to golf I\u2019d love you to come work to us.\u2019 So it\u2019s now been 30 years I\u2019ve been doing television.\u201d <\/p>\n

As Baker-Finch looked back upon three decades in golf TV \u2014 the last 19 as a \u201ctower announcer\u201d with CBS \u2014 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.<\/p>\n

\u201cI love it, I love the game,\u201d he said. \u201cYou 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\u2019s not just a team, it\u2019s not just a network, it\u2019s a family here at CBS, and I\u2019ll miss everybody.\u201d<\/p>\n

Baker-Finch\u2019s 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\u2019s fans.<\/p>\n

\u201cI really will miss calling those moments to the fans at home, because the fans are what we\u2019re here for,\u201d Baker-Finch said. \u201cWe\u2019re here for you, we\u2019re here to entertain you, we\u2019re 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\u2019ll just miss being in your homes every weekend.\u201d<\/p>\n

Baker-Finch teared up again as he finished his farewell \u2014 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.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019re going to miss you big-time pal,\u201d Nantz said. \u201cWe congratulate you on a 40-year run. We know there\u2019s other things you will do and respect that. It was a personal decision, and we honor that, and we honor you my friend.\u201d<\/p>\n