Former US PGA Tour winner Ian Baker-Finch looked like tearing the Thurgoona Country Club Resort apart before a final-hole double bogey stalled his charge.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
The 57-year-old started the second round at the NSW Senior Open one over par, but raced up the leaderboard to be four under at one stage.
But a bogey and six on the par-four 18th pushed him back to one under.
“Overall, yeah, I’m happy … apart from last hole, where I hit it six inches out of bounds down the left with a three-wood when I was steering one down there (the fairway),” he said.
“It’s been a lot of fun.
“I’ll be somewhere around the top 10, 15 tomorrow (Saturday).”
One of Australia’s highest-profile golfing personalities is actually tied for fifth, six shots behind Peter Senior.
A winner of the 1991 British Open, Baker-Finch is now one of the game’s best commentators in his US television work.
“I play a lot for fun, like it’s what I love to do,” he said.
“I just don’t play like a pro any more, I don’t practice, I don’t grind it out.
“It’s just good to come back, I feel like I’m giving back a little bit and playing and supporting the Legends Tour, senior golf and golf in general.”
Baker-Finch’s fall from the game, due to the dreaded yips, in the 1990s has been well-documented.
Like so many players, he chased the perfect swing and his game disintegrated.
At his peak, he was regarded as one of the game’s great putters and it’s an area so many amateurs struggle.
“I think most people struggle with their putting because of the anxiety level, they want to see it go in, so they look too soon,” he said.
“If you can force yourself to stay over it and commit to the line that you’ve chosen and let the putter head swing like a pendulum, without looking, it’s amazing how much better you’ll putt.”
Not surprisingly, Baker-Finch says Tiger Woods is the greatest putter he’s seen.
“He was better under pressure,” he said.
“Jack Nicklaus would be right up there beside him.
“The guy that putts better under pressure is the one that’s in control of the mind.
“That’s pretty much the key to putting.”
Baker-Finch maintains the US has the world’s next superstar.
“Jordan Spieth for sure,” he said.
“He has the best golf IQ of anyone I’ve ever seen.
“He’s right beside Tiger and Jack, unbelievable.
“When he plays at his best, he’s unbeatable.”
And as for the greens at Thurgoona, Baker-Finch is delighted.
“They’re 9½ out of 10, not quite a 10 out of 10 because you’ve got to go Royal Melbourne or Kingston Heath,” he said.
“They’re right up there with the best in the world.”
