Golf News: - Posted 21st December 1997

Baker-Finch facing disciplinary action

Coolum, Queensland - Former Open champion Ian Baker-Finch will be fined and faces likely disciplinary action for his uncharacteristic actions, which included a two-finger salute, during this week's Coolum Classic event in Australia.

The PGA Tour of Australasia is under pressure from members to take disciplinary action under its player code of conduct against Baker-Finch, who deliberately disqualified himself during the first round of the tournament on Thursday.

PGA Tour operations manager Trevor Herden confirmed the 1991 Open winner "had some questions to answer".

Baker-Finch is certain to be fined a mandatory 500 (£240) for picking up his ball on Thursday but his two-fingered sign is a far more serious incident and one which Herden is obliged to investigate.

Baker-Finch's gesture - seemingly in the direction of the waiting media - was captured by a photographer and splashed on the front page of a local newspaper.

If Baker-Finch is found to have brought the game into disrepute with conduct unbecoming a tour player, he could be fined 5,000 dollars (2,400) and suspended from tournament play.

The 37-year-old Australian is in the midst of a wretched form slump, having made just three cuts from 22 events on the Australasian PGA Tour and won just £2,000 in prize money since 1993.