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Article: For Open Champion, Defeats Bred Victory; `Focused' Baker-Finch Passes Thanks Around
- Article from:
- The Washington Post
- Article date:
- July 23, 1991
- Author:
CopyrightThis material is published under license from the Washington Post. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Washington Post. (Hide copyright information)
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The day before the 120th British Open, Jack Nicklaus talked at
length about what it takes for a talented player to cross the
threshold that separates the champions of major events from the rest
of the field.
Nicklaus was speaking specifically about Payne Stewart, the
winner of the U.S. Open last month, but he could just as well have
been talking about Australia's 30-year-old Ian Baker-Finch, who
would win the oldest major championship in golf Sunday. In ideal
conditions at Royal Birkdale, he fired 64-66 in the final two rounds
to run away from the field. A bogey on the final hole didn't matter
as he won by two with an 8-under-par 272 total.
"A lot of things happened to Payne that happened ...