Legendary golf journalist Dan Jenkins has been savaged on social media for belittling Ian Baker-Finch's record-setting British Open triumph at Royal Birkdale.
Twenty-six years after joining Peter Thomson, Kel Nagle and Greg Norman as only Australia's fourth man in more than a century to raise the famous Claret Jug, Baker-Finch's performance on the Lancashire links course remains a part of Open folklore.
In the form of his life, the Queenslander opened his final round with a front-nine 29, blitzing the field with five birdies in his first seven holes, before eventually heading a memorable Australian quinella with a two-stroke win over Mike Harwood.
Baker-Finch's eight-under-par 272 total remains the lowest winning score in nine Opens contested at Birkdale, stretching back to Australian great Thomson's first victory at the course in 1954.
Atoning for blowing final-round Open leads in 1984 and 1990, Baker-Finch's spectacular Sunday start left challengers including Norman, Seve Ballesteros and Bernhard Langer in his wake.
Yet Jenkins, one of golf's most-respected journalists and once hailed as "the best sportswriter in America", took to Twitter on Thursday to lament Baker-Finch's name being on the Open honour roll.
"How can a course that has provided such winners as Palmer, Trevino, Miller and Watson also have given us Ian Baker-Finch?" the 88-year-old tweeted to his 59,200 followers.
The backlash was swift and withering, with several Australian professionals including US PGA Tour star and three-time Open combatant Greg Chalmers condemning the American's attack on the much-loved and admired "IBF".
"So based on your theory only the legends of golf can win at the venues you choose. Clown. I thought you were good at your job," Chalmers tweeted.
Former pro Nathan Green weighed in, too.
"Hehe, I'll occasionally make an attention seeking, disrespectful tweet to remind people I'm still alive too," the Novocastrian posted, prompting approval from other players and fans.
"Sometimes it's best to stay quiet & have people think you are a fool than open your mouth and prove it," Geelong golfer Robert Bensted posted.
Others said Jenkins had embarrassed himself and "should know better".
Now 56 and a respected commentator and analyst, Baker-Finch won 17 tournaments worldwide and reached the top 10 in 1992, the year he also contended for Masters glory at Augusta National.
