FanHouse Chats With TNT's Ian Baker-Finch

In 1991, Ian Baker-Finch was at Hazeltine National, site of this week's PGA Championship, playing the always difficult U.S. Open. Ian admitted a balky putter led to his tie for 44th, but somewhere at Hazeltine, Baker-Finch found the game that would eventually lead to his British Open victory later that summer, his lone major championship. Now, Baker-Finch's crisp Australian accent can be heard on TNT's coverage at this week's PGA Championship. We chatted with the 16-time professional victor about the PGA Championship, who he likes to win (surprise, surprise) and what he thinks of Twitter for PGA Tour players.

Bacon: Hey Ian, thanks for taking the time to chat with us. First, how is Hazeltine and how is the weather?

Baker-Finch: Oh, the weather is good, it's a little breezy today, but the course is drying out. It's playing very nicely, and all the players love it, and it's looking really good.

Bacon: Do you think if the weather stays nice they'll play the course all the way back (to 7,678 yards)?

Baker-Finch: I think they will play the course pretty much all the way back. I don't think when they expanded the course to 7,600 yards they planned on using the front tees and I think if the weather's nice they'll play it to the full length and occasionally they'll play some of the par-3s up and some of the par-4s up, like the par-4 14th, but pretty much the rest of the tees will be back to where they are meant to be.

Bacon: Okay, with the distance that Hazeltine will play at, do you feel that a short hitter has a chance to do what, say, Zach Johnson did at Augusta in 2007, when he wedged his way around the course to a victory?

Baker-Finch: I totally agree with you (on players like Johnson be able to contend). I think people are saying it's such a long course and it will suit the long hitters, but it actually brings the wedge player into play more. The big hitters can't even reach, essentially, three of the par-5s (in two) because short par-3s where everyone lays up to the same place, so it certainly brings in Luke Donald and Zach Johnson, Brian Gay and Justin Leonard.

Bacon: You played in the 1991 U.S. Open at Hazeltine, correct?

Baker-Finch: I did. I played the Open, and I actually played well but I putted poorly. I actually never got the feel for the greens, I think I led fairways hit and greens hit in both categories but finished well down the pack, so the greens were one of the biggest struggles for me.

Bacon: Comparing Hazeltine in 2009 to 1991, it seems like almost night and day. Is it comparable or has the length changes made is different?

Baker-Finch: Well, it's pretty much the same. They've added 300-400 yards, but the average drive used to go 260 now goes 300, so if they are hitting drivers on 12 holes, it'll be (a lot like 1991).

Bacon: You and I are making a bet ... you can either take Tiger Woods alone or any three golfers. Which side of the bet do you want to be on and who would be your three to challenge Woods?

Baker-Finch: The side of the bet I'd rather be on would be Tiger, and if I had to take the three players I'd take Lee Westwood, Padraig Harrington and Charley Hoffman.

Bacon: Interesting, Hoffman isn't a very popular pick. What do you like about his game?

Baker-Finch: I was just walking the course with Charley and he rips one down the par-4 and hit one of the par-5s in two and he's a dark horse that you might expect can win a major because he can hit the ball well enough to win one.

Bacon: You're one of the few broadcasters that does an excellent job of keeping himself out of the action, and it really shows in your broadcast. What is your goal this week for TNT and how do you approach announcing?

Baker-Finch: what were trying to do is follow the action and analyze what the players are trying to do. Golf is my game. I spent the last three days walking the course, taking to players, and when TNT coverage starts (Thursday morning) I'll know the course, I'll know the players and I'll know why they're doing certain things. i know the course well, from 1991 and 2002 and playing a few days ago on media day, so i can give some insight and let the golfers and their clubs do the talking.

Bacon: A lot of the PGA tour players are really into the Twitter thing. Do you like or dislike it and do you approve of them using it?

Baker-Finch: Oh yeah, i like the guys using it, i think it's good fun. I'm only doing it this week for the TNT coverage (www.twitter.com/PGA_com), i'm not a Tweeter, I spend a lot of the time on the phone calling and emailing and don't need another networking opportunity.

Bacon: I'm sure you've been asked this a lot. I've been to St. Andrews, when you hit the famous tee shot off the first hole in 1995 that went out-of-bounds left, how hard was the wind blowing?

Baker-Finch: Oh, I bet the wind was blowing 50 MPH, into our face and right-to-left.

I hit a bad shot, I hit a low, hook, and it hit the road (that crosses the first and 18th fairway) and spun left out-of-bounds.

Bacon: Alright, surprise us ... you going with Tiger?

Baker-Finch: Yeah, Tiger is the guy to beat this week.

Bacon: Okay, thanks for the time Ian, and good luck this week.