Ian Baker-Finch

[albatross]

Off to a good start. 3 under through 13 holes. Pretty good for not playing on tour for almost 9 years.

I'm interested to see the highlights later to see his swing and how he plays. Seems like a pretty funny guy and I really like him in the tower.

[Thrash13]

He finished up at -2 which gives him a solid chance to make the cut tomorrow. His swing looks very nice, and quite frankly, he might play better because there isn't much pressure to perform. From what I've heard, he still plays very well when playing rounds at his home course. He just hasn't been able to take it to the professional tournaments.

It's definitely a nice story, and I hope he plays well all week.

[Shorty]

From what I've heard, he still plays very well when playing rounds at his home course.

+5, to be precise!

[Titleist247]

gave a good interview after the round. He specifically said he will not be attempting a comeback, but it's not too hard to imagine him on the senior tour in a couple of years when he hits 50

[Chilli Dipper]

gave a good interview after the round. He specifically said he will not be attempting a comeback, but it's not too hard to imagine him on the senior tour in a couple of years when he hits 50

The question is, if he continues to play well this weekend, will he be in attendance at Turnberry in July? He hasn't played in the Open in over a decade, but Greg Norman showed the world last year what a past champion can do when he's on his game.

[Trav]

After only 7 holes of Round 2, I'm afraid the question has almost certainly been answered, as he now stands 4 over (and 4 over the current cut line - which will probably even lower), ahead of 6 players. Maybe he can join the tower this weekend, he could add a lot about how certain holes are playing.

[PEZGolf]

After only 7 holes of Round 2, I'm afraid the question has almost certainly been answered, as he now stands 4 over (and 4 over the current cut line - which will probably even lower), ahead of 6 players. Maybe he can join the tower this weekend, he could add a lot about how certain holes are playing.

Baker-Finch is a good commentator, and it is nice to see him give it a try to play in a tournament again. When he was in his prime and won the Open Championship in 1991, he was always a gentleman and had a nice, smooth swing. When my son and I went to the practice rounds for the 1993 US Open at Baltusrol, we followed Payne's group, and on Wednesday, that was Baker-Finch, Larry Mize, and Tom Kite. Tom's swing, of course, is solid, but the other three had nice, full, smooth swings. You could tell though, that Mize and Payne had decent length off the tee, but Ian was short. That lack of distance probably made him start to try to hard, and threw off his rhythm. That is my theory. Anybody know if that is why he "faded off the scene"?

He can probably be somewhat competitive on the Champions Tour, but I expect Freddie Couples to be a dominant player.

[BallStriker]

He can probably be somewhat competitive on the Champions Tour, but I expect Freddie Couples to be a dominant player.

I love Freddy, but I don't think he will immediatley dominate the Champions Tour.....it is more of a putting contest than even the PGA...not the strongest part of his game..

[BASHERBAKER69]

IBF's performance at last week's tournament tells us why he is no longer competitive. He shot a great first round of 68, and then for some inexplicable reason he was 8 over for the first 9 in his second round. Let's not forget that he won the British Open with a bulletproof final round (nerveless) and also came runner up in the US Open. He has won a number of tournaments on the PGA tour too.

He played at St Andrews in 2000 and hit his first tee shot out of bounds left, which is very hard to do as the fairway is about 350 yards wide. He has got a mental block but is still a great player..perhaps a few sessions with a good coach would be useful.

[PEZGolf]

IBF's performance at last week's tournament tells us why he is no longer competitive. He shot a great first round of 68, and then for some inexplicable reason he was 8 over for the first 9 in his second round. Let's not forget that he won the British Open with a bulletproof final round (nerveless) and also came runner up in the US Open. He has won a number of tournaments on the PGA tour too.

I agree with you. He has the potential for a comeback and his 68 showed that. He used to have such a nice, smooth swing, kept the ball in play, and could score. Once you lose it, it is so hard to get it back. David Duval has been trying, and may get back to being competitive, but look at how long he has been trying.