Earlier this week, longtime CBS golf analyst Ian Baker-Finch announced that he would be retiring after the final two PGA Tour tournaments on CBS Sports’ schedule after 30 years of covering the sport. And on the CBS coverage of the 3M Open on Saturday, Baker-Finch understandably was overcome with emotions after his colleagues, Jim Nantz and Trevor Immelman, paid tribute to all he has meant to the sport.
On Saturday, Nantz brought up the topic of Baker-Finch’s looming retirement to fans watching at home, expressing how everyone at CBS would be covering the event this week and next week’s Wyndham Championship with heavy hearts knowing that Baker-Finch’s time covering the sport would then be coming to an end.
“Well friends, it’s going to be emotional and nostalgic over this weekend and next,” said Nantz. “We conclude our season series at the Wyndham Championship and we say goodbye to Ian Baker-Finch, our colleague who announced earlier this week, his retirement from the booth, effective after next week’s tournament in Greensboro.”
CBS then ran a highlight reel of Baker-Finch’s career highlights during his playing days, including clips from his Open Championship victory in 1991, which Nantz voiced over.
“What a stud, look at this rockstar,” added Nantz. “The things that he did… Here’s a win a Colonial. Of course, he won an Open Championship. Always family first. The Claret Jug, his name is on it. He then made the transition to go from a great player to a great broadcaster. A legend in the booth. Finchy, you’re our man. Our colleague, our friend. It’s gonna be tough to say goodbye to you this week and next week. This gives us a chance to go through one dry run, so to speak, before next week. Because I know we’re all going to be a mess.”
Despite Nantz’s hopes that it would be a “dry run”, Baker-Finch was quite emotional when it was his turn to talk about his time in the CBS booth, explaining how he is going to miss being in the homes of millions of golf fans every week.
“Thanks Jim, I’ll miss all of you,” said Baker-Finch. “It’s been a great run though. Not only the 19 years at CBS, but 30 years in total. I had to get some injuries fixed in 96′ and I stopped playing. Went home and did the TV back home in Australia. Did 12 events straight with four different producers, four different teams. I was actually quite competent. And then Jack Graham here in the states said, ‘Hey, if you don’t come back to golf, we would love for you to come work for us.’
“So it’s not been 30 years I’ve been doing the television. I love it, I love the game. You guys now, guys and girls and the whole team here at CBS. I think Colt says it all the time. Nobody loves the game more than Finchy. And I do, I really love it. I love the team here. It’s not just a team, it’s not just a network, it’s a family here at CBS.
“I’ll miss everybody. And I really will miss calling those moments to the fans at home. Because the fans is what we are here for. We are here for you. We’re here to entertain you. We’re here to bring you the pictures that sell us shy. We bring you live golf from all of these beautiful venues around the country, around the world. That’s what I will miss. That’s what I will miss. I’ll miss being in your homes every weekend.”
A legend in the booth.
Ian Baker-Finch sits down with Jim Nantz and Trevor Immelman to discuss his retirement from broadcasting golf after an incredible 30-year run and the past 19 with CBS Sports. pic.twitter.com/e1yJn3BVCP
— Golf on CBS ⛳ (@GolfonCBS) July 26, 2025
If this is any indication, next week’s coverage of the Wyndham Championship will certainly bring even more emotional moments from Nantz, Immelman, and Baker-Finch as they honor Baker-Finch’s lasting legacy in the golf broadcasting space.
