Every Shot | Ian Baker-Finch | 120th Open Championship

Ian Baker-Finch was competing at The Open for the eighth time in 1991, having finished tied 6th in 1990 he was looking to go the distance this time around.
The Australian came to Royal Birkdale and made the cut after the first two rounds. He then shot a brilliant round of 64 to share the lead with Mark O’Meara at the end of day three.
Baker-Finch continued his incredible form and went on to win his first and only major title, lifting the Claret Jug by beating the likes of Mike Harwood, Fred Couples and Seve Ballesteros.
Relive every shot from this unexpected championship victory.
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[@salfordnick5336]

Was a steward on the 16th that year, what a brilliant front 9....managed to watch baker finch on the back nine, what a player and worthy champion. Went back to the 16th in 98, they extended it 70 yards.... frightening tee shot now

[@bamf16]

Brilliant! This was my first Open I attended aged 11. Fantastic memories.

[@ruthharvey3517]

Well done Ian. You and your family should be very proud. Not just of the brilliant golf. From a fellow Australian.

[@KyleShevlin]

I've always enjoyed his commentating, but was too young to ever have seen his game. What a wonderful swing. His balance and control through the ball here is admirable.

[@SilverfoxThe]

Totally agree. This was before the era of the power players and IBF had one of the best swings. He always came across as a very likeable guy too.

[@postmads1974]

I'm 48 and saw this on tv at the time. I like that he got this under the belt before his misfortune. He will be remembered by some of us old timers...

[@garyroberts3859]

Played there once, and it was easy going, birdied the first. Thinking very straightforward course then I noticed them up behind me as I stood on the tees…yes, the championship tees very different course from them.. Very happy I broke 80 and by the time I finished Birkdale was my favourite course. 5 marker from Australia.

[@taylorsmith9991]

No Laying Up brought me here 😂

[@tobyjaffe270]

same

[@kfcdonegal]

What a player. His career should have been filled with majors

[@aussiegolfer2919]

What a great Australian golfer he was , incredible to think he retired from golf at 36 🏌️‍♀️⛳️⛳️⛳️

[@alexanderallan349]

Bit of a Clark Kent about him! Actually very good looking and nice kind looking smile. Fantastic win, looked very much in control out there and having a nice wee round, no worries at all. I wish I could have a few rounds like that! just how tiny in that 3w club head....the ball looks bigger that the club 😆

[@notdrivingaminimetro]

Strange this finished him, his swing was brilliant. I remember being stood to the left of 18 when he played his second. I was 10, feeling old watching this 😫

[@danpopely4610]

I was on the left at 18 too! Had been following Seve round on the final day but he couldn’t get it going. Ian’s front 9 was unreal.

[@MrMeadfoot]

£10 e/w @ 40/1, oh happy days !

[@elboy6715]

I remember these Birkdale greens. Full of thatch. They were ripped up 2 years later.

[@andrewrobinson8305]

Remember it too. I was there over the weekend (mainly following Seve!), and the greens were awful. The ball wobbled all over the place on them. Made Baker-Finche’s scoring all the more impressive.

[@JohnSmith-mx8wp]

It's all downhill from here!

[@justinsharpe7252]

And a cew years later he coukdnt break 90. A strange thing to have hapoenex. He lwent frkm Open champion to 18 habdicapper. Retirex to ckmmentater very early

[@jadesmith6823]

One hit wonder 😂

[@salfordnick5336]

Taking piss 🤔 from 84 to 94 he was one of the best players in the world winning alot 🤦 form went completely from 94. But anything but a one hit wonder 🤦