Peter Baker’s victory at the Credit Suisse Challenge not only re-launched his career – it allowed him to prove to his two daughters that their father is the true champion he had been trying to convince them he was for well over a decade!

Grace Baker was not even born the last time her dad won a European Tour Approved event in 1994, at the Tournoi Perrier de Paris, while Georgina was just over one year old, unaware that Baker was one of Europe’s finest golfers, who had performed magnificently at The 1993 Ryder Cup, winning three points out of four against the USA at The Belfry, and won five events on Tour in the space of six years.

Now teenagers, Baker’s daughters are the perfect age to dismiss the ‘old man’s’ tales of glory from more than 13 years ago as ancient history, so to prove he can still win in the manner in which he did, with his 20 under par score and a superb overall performance, at the Wylihof Golf Club, was a wonderful moment for the 39 year old.

“This victory is very sweet for me,” reflected Baker. “Yes, I have won on Tour and done it at The Ryder Cup but this win means a lot for so many reasons and one of the most important is that my youngest daughter, who is 13, had never seen me win before so now I have proved to her that I can actually play!

“My oldest daughter is only 14, so she hardly knew what was going on the last time I won in 1994, so it is really nice to be able to win for them. This is also fantastic for my career. I feel like I’m back in contention and fighting and winning – it’s a huge step in the right direction for me because my last win was 13 years ago.”

Baker is now, like every other Challenge Tour player, targeting a return to The European Tour via the top 20 on the Rankings. His win at the Credit Suisse Challenge elevated him to 11th place on the Rankings with season’s earnings of €33,357 (£22,556)

“The next step is to get back on Tour now,” he continued. “That has been my goal all year and the best way for me is the Challenge Tour. I committed to doing that at the start of the year because I thought that was the best option.

“There is a huge amount of talent out here. I have been around for ages and I found it tough to bring it home on Sunday but I did it against all these young guys who are desperate to get there and that is a great boost for me because they have been kicking my backside up till now this season so I’ve shown them I can still do it as well.”

Scott Crockett
Chief Press Officer
The European Tour
Tel: +44 (0) 1344 840447
Fax: +44 (0) 1344 840444
Email: scrockett@europeantour.com