A graphic put together for longtime CBS Golf analyst Ian Baker-Finch on his final golf broadcast Photo Credit: CBS
By Reice Shipley on

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The last two weeks have served as a last dance for longtime CBS golf analyst Ian Baker-Finch, who announced last month that he would be retiring at the end of the 2025 PGA Tour season. And on Sunday, his final golf broadcast before calling it quits, Baker-Finch received a proper sendoff from both his longtime colleagues on the broadcast, and from other golf media members watching the broadcast at home.

Baker-Finch has dedicated his life to the game of golf, first as a player who ultimately ended up winning a major championship in 1991, and later as a broadcaster for the last 30 years across numerous networks. The last 19 years have been dedicated to CBS’ golf product, serving as an analyst since 2006.

The final round of the Wyndham Championship, the final event of the PGA Tour season that is aired on CBS, served as Baker-Finch’s final golf broadcast before riding off into the sunset. As you would expect, the former Open Championship winner didn’t leave without receiving a special tribute from CBS, who ran a short video during the broadcast congratulating Baker-Finch on what was a very successful broadcasting career.

As Baker-Finch fought back tears, the four-man broadcast booth consisting of Jim Nantz, Trevor Immelman, and Frank Nobilo took turns in offering some kind words on how much Baker-Finch impacted their lives both professionally and as colleagues turned friends.

“I do hope you have had the time of your life,” said Nantz. “Because we have, being with you for the last 19 years, 30 overall in the business. A legend, we love you.”

“Finchy, you have been such an incredibly mentor to so many,” said Immelman. “Including myself, and I am so thankful for that. You are just a wonderful mentor. And what I’ve been thinking about over the last few days is the outpouring of love and respect that you have received over the last two weeks is such a testament to the great man that you are. I’m so thankful to call you a friend. And I’m excited for the future for you and Jenny. Wish you guys all the best and seeing you often and speaking with you often.”

“That’s tough to follow up,” said Nobilo. “It’s interesting, it’s been 19 years. Our first meeting was as two 19 year olds. You had a great golfing career. We come from New Zealand and Australia. We are meant to be enemies. And amongst the nearly 46 years, we’ve become great friends. I’m proud of your career and I’m proud to sit alongside you.”

A pair of on-course reporters for CBS, Amanda Balionis and Dottie Pepper, similarly paid their respects to Baker-Finch in a pair of tribute post speaking to his impact on the game of golf.

“Ian, we are all going to miss you so much,” said Balionis. “From the moment that I started with this team, you have led with so much kindness and compassion. I am also going to miss the dad jokes. But most of all, I am going to miss every Saturday and Sunday, knowing I can count on seeing you and your smiling face, and bringing so much joy to our entire crew.”

“Finchy, a major champion, we all know that,” said Pepper. “But what everybody else might not know is that you are just a major human being. A major, great human being. You have taken care of this crew. You have been a mentor, a teacher, a big brother. So many things to so many people. Gosh, we are going to miss you.”

In addition to all of Baker-Finch’s colleagues showing how much love they have for their longtime colleague, several prominent figures in the golf community outside of the sports media space, including Tiger Woods and PGA Tour Commissioner Jay Monahan, similarly offered Baker-Finch some kind words in light of his final broadcast.

Even though Baker-Finch will be stepping away from broadcasting, he will still continue to shape the future of golf in a different way, recently expressing his intention to get more involved in designing golf courses.

“I’ll still be involved, just at a different pace,” Baker-Finch told Amanda Cashman of the PGA Tour website. “I’m excited for more design work. That’s always been in my blood.”

About Reice Shipley

Reice Shipley is a staff writer for Comeback Media that graduated from Ithaca College with a degree in Sports Media. He previously worked at Barrett Sports Media and is a fan of all things Syracuse sports.

View all posts by Reice Shipley