After a distinguished 30-year career in golf broadcasting, including 19 years with CBS Sports, Ian Baker-Finch is retiring following next week’s Wyndham Championship on the PGA Tour.
The 1991 Open Championship at Royal Birkdale winner announced his departure yesterday via social media, leaving behind a legacy as one of golf’s most respected voices.
The 64-year-old Australian, known for his insightful analysis and smooth voice, began broadcasting with ESPN and ABC in 1998 before joining CBS in 2007.
“Golf has been an enormous part of my life,” Baker-Finch said in a statement. “I was fortunate to compete against the best players in the game and more recently work with the very best in television.”
His retirement follows Sir Nick Faldo’s exit from CBS in 2022, marking another shift for the network’s golf coverage. Fans and colleagues praised Baker-Finch’s class and expertise, with X posts calling him “100% class” and his commentary “elegant and soothing.”
CBS Sports CEO David Berson lauded him as “one of the most respected and trusted voices in golf.”
Ian Baker-Finch today announced his retirement from broadcasting golf after an incredible 30-year run, the past 19 with CBS Sports.
Baker-Finch will work CBS Sports’ final two tournaments of the Network’s 2025 season, with his last broadcast coming at the Wyndham Championship… pic.twitter.com/vzWQAxXauW
— CBS Sports PR (@CBSSportsGang) July 22, 2025
As CBS prepares for the 2026 season, Baker-Finch’s absence will be felt, especially at majors like the Masters, where he served as a tower analyst. His final broadcasts at the 3M Open and Wyndham Championship will cap a remarkable career, leaving fans hopeful for future cameo appearances from the beloved “Finchy.”
