You must have JavaScript enabled to fill out this form. It may have been out of bounds but, in the eyes of his mostly loyal son, the shot was not without its redeeming features. It worked. Book tickets here. We filmed in the south at a few different courses. He knew writers in England, who helped him contact the couple. Happy Gilmore, Caddyshack, Tin Cup, stand aside and give Maurice Flitcroft a chance\"--The Observer \"The tale's essential warmth and heart make it well worth the read. [8], When he discovered, to his shock, that any amateurs entering competitions had to have an official handicapsomething he lackedhe simply declared himself to be a professional. VAT no 918 5617 01 They're like little governance. For other inquiries, Contact Us. 845898). Then 46 years old, Flitcroft shot 121, 49 over par. You have got to do hare-brained things., Arrogant ex-Leeds United player who raped girl, 17, jailed for 17 years, Man Utd legend Roy Keane surprises Laura Woods live on ITV with comment, Paralysed ex-Spanish footballer Novo dies at 32 after being 'hit by a train', Brentford star Ivan Toney pleads guilty to multiple betting breaches, News Group Newspapers Limited in England No. Maurice Flitcroft was the fearless rookie who tricked the R&A in 1976 and became a cult hero for decades to come. This is the remarkable story of 'The Phantom of The Open' Maurice Flitcroft had some range. It's what the current parlance might call shudder 'nicecore'. His deception (and ineptitude) were uncovered when he managed to card a 49-over-par 121the worst score in the tournament's history;[10] some of the other professionals playing with him were so angry that they successfully demanded a refund of their entry fees. Flitcroft died in 2007, and, well, I think its terrific that a film has been made of his ongoing escapades in the royal and ancient and sometimes fuddy-duddy game of golf. 20. Maurice Flitcroft. Well, to punish him for signing up as a professional and making it impossible to play on any course was really unnecessary and nasty. The amateur player is a clear threat to anyone within hitting distance, but he also represents a challenge to the elitism of the sport. Did you film at Formby, where the 1976 Open Qualifier took place? Not, mind you, that it was easily arranged. I managed to whittle him down to lunch and 18 holes, only for him to move the goalposts on the day. His family did very kindly send me his wonderful red hat, but it was too small, so we used a replica. Michael informs his father that the crane crew will be trimmed. Following the 1976 Open, the rules were changed to prevent Flitcroft from attempting to enter again. I think that a lot of the humour arises because so many people take golf very seriously. The legendary hacker infamously submitted an entry form for Open Qualifying for the field at Royal Birkdale, claiming he was a professional golfer even though hed never been on a golf course in his life. My dad taught me and I was really good but I couldn't understand why the members looked down on me, on the juniors really. So when I first heard of Maurice (pronounced Morris), he was like one of us. Hed paid his money so he wanted his moneys worth.. Maurice had a very cheap set. M aurice Flitcroft, who first hit the headlines in 1976 when he had an opening 121 in Open Qualifying at Formby, died in 2007. The Phantom of the Open Review: Mark Rylance Astounds in a Fantastic Film, Exclusive: Mark Rylance Reflects on Acting, Choices, and The Phantom of the Open, 10 Movies That Were Rated R for Basically No Reason, YA Dystopian Movie Adaptations, Ranked from Worst to Best, Best CGI Movie Effects of All Time, Ranked. He played a few holes at South Herts before the R&A twigged to his real identity and tossed him off the course. Flitcroft sent in his entry form for the 1977 championship; the R&A rejected it. Okay, maybe just a tad. Maurice Gerald Flitcroft (23 November 1929 24 March 2007) was a British golfer. For further details of our complaints policy and to make a complaint please click this link: thesun.co.uk/editorial-complaints/, The 'Phantom of the Open' Maurice Flitcroft, with his wife Jean, was teeing off at the Open despite never having played a round of golf, Actor Mark Rylance playing hopeless golfer Maurice in The Phantom Of The Open, Maurice pictured strolling along behind Seve Ballesteros at the Open, Actor Mark Rylance lines up as shot as Maurice, The imposter's son James, 59, tells The Sun that Maurice was not one to throw in the towel, Maurice eyes up the famous trophy - but this was as close as he got to getting his hands on it, Maurice never made it onto the leaderboard, The famous trophy is missing the name Maurice Flitcroft, Independent Press Standards Organisation (IPSO). Perhaps Flitcrofts legacy other than this movie is he forced the R&A to institute stricter checks on entry forms, with names flagged up if there is anything suspicious. Space to play or pause, M to mute, left and right arrows to seek, up and down arrows for volume. Half an hour later and the starter was calling On the tee, Maurice Flitcroft. And that was when his knees began to quake. If we wanted cricket we had pads, balls, wickets. He drives then R&A secretary Keith Mackenzie batty, once its become clear that Flitcroft has put one over very much over his Royal and Ancients commanding presence. The revue used to tour all the country and I would dive into this tank. He was dubbed the worlds worst golfer and made headlines around the world. I think it's because for most of us, humiliation is our worst nightmare. "I've tried to work out what it is about what we really love about him. That was the year 19-year-old Spanish prodigy Seve Ballesteros announced himself to the world by finishing joint-second behind US great Johnny Miller. A tournament was even established in his name in the United States, celebrating effort over ability. But James did not always like caddying because it often meant facing furious officials when Maurice had been rumbled. The Phantom of the Open is in cinemas now. A new television set with a remote control changes his fate. The chain-smoking crane driver made countless disastrous attempts to qualify for golfs most famous tournament despite never having played a round of golf before. [8] It seems that none of the professionals noticed that his gear comprised only a red imitation-leather bag and half a set of mail-order clubs. What the movie does have, and what just about makes it worth the price of admission, is Rylance, who's quietly become one of movies' most fascinating and unsettling presences. Our hero gave the Open a miss in 1977 but, by using a pseudonym, he tried again in 1978 and 79. This whimsical comedy-drama tells the true story of Flitcroft, a daffy father of three, who blagged a spot in the 1976 Open championship, setting a new record for the tournaments highest ever score. As long as you try to do your best, it doesnt matter what other people say. Flitcroft, then 46, became a popular figure after shooting 121 in the qualifying round. I saw Tiger Woods making a 10 on one hole. Hes flung around the world like a golf ball, dizzy with the sense of possibility. That he had lost every hole in our game never got a mention, either from me or from him. It was the same with golf clubs. At the end of our round at Windermere, Flitcroft told me that he was not bothering with that years Open at Royal St Georges but would instead be heading for The Belfry. No disservice to the Tim Burton film, but I adore the Gene Wilder film, the 1973 version (Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory) even all the sets were made of plastic". The twins inherited their dads sense of dedication James and Gene loved dancing and went on to become world disco champions. Even though Maurice talked golf all the time, he never had complaints from wife Jean, played by Paddington actress Sally Hawkins in the movie. Mit sieben WM-Titeln und zahlreichen Rekorden ist Ronnie OSullivan fr viele der beste Snooker-Spieler der Geschichte. Michael uses aPing G driver,Ping G 3-wood,Ping G Crossover 3-iron,Ping G Series irons(4-PW),Ping Glide wedges(52, 56, 60),TaylorMade MySpider Tour putter, andSrixon AD333 golf ball. Oscar-winning actor Mark Rylance (pictured) plays Flitcroft, while actor and filmmaker Craig Roberts is the films director. Top 59 Best Public Golf Courses in Canada, Need to know: Another designated event, limited LPGA field and a veteran called into action, The CP Womens Open is returning to Calgary in 2024, to be held at Earl Grey Golf Club, February was a fantastic month for the PGA Tour, with drama and storylines aplenty, A simple idea has morphed into sudden success for Red Rooster Golf founders and friends, Eric Cole is neither a superstar nor a celebrity, but his story is worth knowing. Moore, Terry that is, had played in the 1987 Flitcroft as a guest. We were annoyed about that growing up. Related: Exclusive: Mark Rylance Reflects on Acting, Choices, and The Phantom of the Open. He promises to take care of her and little Michael. "The Sun", "Sun", "Sun Online" are registered trademarks or trade names of News Group Newspapers Limited. When Maurice Flitcroft (Mark Rylance) imagines the moon as a golf ball, hes looking for a new way to make a living. Its a heartwarming confection about Flitcrofts experiences flummoxing the poobahs at the Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St Andrews, called the Royal and Ancient Golf Society in the film. The next problem had to do with the venue. It was a pity they missed the par-four second. Farnaby grew up around golf and first remembers hearing about Flitcroft when he was around 11 years old. Ive made a lot of progress in the last few months and Im sorry I did not do any better. Actually, the R&A told Flitcroft in no uncertain terms he wasnt playing the second round. He entered the qualifier for the Open that year. Academy Award-nominee Sally Hawkins plays Maurice's supportive wife Jean. Sorry. Flitcroft refused to be defined by harsh criticism, mockery, and the scorn of an elitist golf culture. Registered Office: Media House, Peterborough Business Park, Lynch Wood, Peterborough. In addition the R&A gave him a lifetime ban from all their competitions. 2 and, by the time Ball No. Regardless of where those shots and the rest had ended up, Flitcrofts heart was in the right place. In the 1976 British Open, Maurice Flitcroft, a crane operator turned aspiring golfer, shot the worst qualifying round in the tournament's history. Moore, who still writes regularly for Michigan Golfer, where he was the founding editor, remembers the Flitcrofts with great fondness. A challenge to the elitism of the sport: Mark Rylance as Maurice Flitcroft in The Phantom of the Open. Flitcroft was married to Jean (died 2002) by whom he had two sons, one of whom caddied for him. "I loved the book, Roald Dahl's book Charlie and the Chocolate Factory when I was a kid. Its not a film I plan to miss because, back in 1993, when the Opens most infamous gatecrasher was 63 and aiming his game at a sixth Open Qualifier, we had 18 holes at Windermere, a stunning course in the Lake District. The Sun website is regulated by the Independent Press Standards Organisation (IPSO), Our journalists strive for accuracy but on occasion we make mistakes. Your email address will not be published. Farnaby and Scott Murray's 2010 book The Phantom of the Open: Maurice Flitcroft the World's Worst Golfer is from Yellow Jersey Press. "One of the things we noticed when Scott and I were researching the book, you got the Barrow and there's still not many jobs there, a very poor area. So do many others who have dreamed of pursuing a career in something they just don't have the skills or means to achieve the goals. Maurice Gerald Flitcroft was a British golfer and audacious He further studied from instructional articles by the 1966 PGA Championship winner Al Geiberger, and honed his skills on a nearby beach.[4]. Flitcroft said when he spoke at the dinner, When my sister-in-law heard we were trave;ling to Grand Rapids, she said, Its the first time I remember Maurice and Jean being out of the house together since their gas oven exploded.. Michael Catling is the Features Editor ofTodays Golfer. Theres an earnestness to Rylances performance, which encourages us to find inspiration in the underdog. The Phantom of The Open opens on March 18. The next minute hes got himself a set of clubs and is practising every day.. Whitten further said, "It was a different sort of experience, I'd never met a crane operator from England. And so is the film. I mean he didn't know he wasn't those things but even when he found out he was like 'well you know I gave it my best shot, I gave it a go'. We first meet the aging Maurice Flitcroft played by Oscar-winning oddball Mark Rylance (Bridge of Spies) in one of those career wraparound interviews that immediately tells the audience a little bit more than it needs to know. Learn how and when to remove this template message, 1974 Piccadilly World Match Play Championship, Professional Golfers' Association of America, "The 'Phantom of the Open' who tricked his way into golf's elite", "Flitcroft runs out of steam and names in his long-running tilt at windmill", "Maurice Flitcroft: Audacious amateur golfer who conned his way into the Open", "The world's worst golfer, coming to cinemas", "The Joy of Six: Open nightmares, From Walter Danecki to Ian Woosnams 15 clubs, via the travails of Ian Baker-Finch, here are half a dozen Open lows, by Scott Murray, 15 Jul 2011, The Guardian, "Maurice Flitcroft: The world's worst golfer", "Sony Pictures Classics Acquires Mark Rylance & Sally Hawkins Movie 'The Phantom of the Open', "Front Row: The Arts in Aberystwyth, The Boy with Two Hearts in Cardiff and Welsh film director Craig Roberts", Obituary, "The Great Pretender: Recalling Open Championship gatecrasher Maurice Flitcroft," by Dave Kindred, GolfDigest, June 25, 2007, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Maurice_Flitcroft&oldid=1139154906, Short description is different from Wikidata, Wikipedia articles needing copy edit from January 2023, Articles needing additional references from January 2023, All articles needing additional references, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0, This page was last edited on 13 February 2023, at 17:28. How did he get in, given that hed never played a round of golf and the extent of his experience with the game had been whacking balls on the beach? Flitcroft said of his performance, "I wasn't playing too well. The fact he wasnt put down by that and realised he could apply from abroad as a foreigner and wear a disguise, I just loved that. The search had lasted rather longer than the regulation five minutes when Gene spotted the missile way down the road. He has been a journalist for more than 10 years and was shortlisted for Bauer Media Journalist of the Year in 2019. He wasn't skilled. He and wife Jean came up with the idea. He was like a folk hero to us juniors because he gave a little kick in the ass to the senior members and we liked that.". Even though tournament bosses The Royal And Ancient, based in Scotland at the home of golf St Andrews, banned him from ever competing again, Maurice kept trying to enter the Open and other pro tournaments around the world under a series of comedy pseudonyms. Former tailor and jeweller James says: Because of what hed done, he virtually made himself unemployable. WebWhat a film! But Phantom, directed by Craig Roberts from a script by Paddington 2 writer Simon Farnaby, shows what happens when that formula isn't finessed; when a film is allowed to drift into saccharine homilies at the expense of dramatic tension. Were you surprised by how The R&A acted after finding out he was an imposter? In its obituary of Flitcroft, The Daily Telegraph commented: Maurice Flitcroft was a chain-smoking shipyard crane-operator from Barrow-in-Furness whose persistent attempts to gatecrash the British Open golf championship produced a sense of humour failure among members of the golfing establishment. Back in the early 70s, Flitcroft is working as a crane operator for a shipyard in far-flung north-west England, near the Scottish border, where he's settled in a modest existence with wife Jean (Sally Hawkins, milking that Spencer bowl cut for all it's worth), her grown son from a prior relationship (Jake Davies), and their twin teenage boys (Christian and Jonah Lees). He didn't have anyone to tell him you're really not very good because golf is a game you can play on your own. At times, Roberts seems to have considered just that there are enough giddy whip pans and dolly ins to suggest the director seemed to think he was making a slippery, Scorsese-esque tale of irony and ambition. Sign Up For Our Free Weekly Digital Magazine! Sony Pictures Classics new movie The Phantom of the Open hit theaters in June and tells the true story of Maurice Flitcroft, a laid-off crane driver who at the age of 46 chanced his way into the British Open in 1976 having never played a round of golf in his life. He was a dreamer to the core. Such steps, he thought, would enable him to play in the 94 Open under his own name and as an amateur. Having said that he was going to slosh his drive, my opponent dispatched his ball into ferns, never to be seen again. Actor, comedian and author Simon Farnaby wrote the screenplay for The Phantom of the Open and co-wrote the book in 2010 along with sportswriter and author Scott Murray. He was a remarkable man. Things were going a bit sideways for him, and he needed an adventure. His fantastical character traits lead to a conflict with Michael. But he was a self-anointed professional, right? He humorously recalls growing up during World War II when dreams of fancy were put on hold. The film includes a sweet scene of Flitcrofts wife picking up the invitation in the mail and showing it to her husband and their three sons. WebFlitcroft had golfing ambitions well above his ability and came to notoriety in 1976 when, posing as a professional golfer, he managed to obtain a place to play in the qualifying What a story. He was the most besotted golfer I ever met. Undeterred by failure (and a lifetime ban), he re-enters under a fresh alias, donning a French accent and a moustache. I did watch a lot of golf on TV during the filming. Go for it, what the hell! We have kept that throughout life. Will the movie identify those players who had to suffer Flitcrofts antics for those excruciating 18 holes at Formby? Not only did Maurice G Flitcroft (unattached)s card have a three-figure score scrawled across the bottom of it, next to the 7th hole was the figure 12 and a massive question mark. I had to query it, says Johnson. Both of them stood there and said, Well, thats when we lost count. So they were obviously sick to death about what had happened. By 1992, Maurice had developed a hip problem which finally convinced him to pack away his golf clubs. He's a great sort of clown. 'The Phantom of the Open' Brings Maurice Flitcroft's Amusing, Inspiring Story to Big Screen New movie, based off a book by the same name, chronicles a British We used the same type of clubs, but not the originals. Maurice just didn't want to do it. He always kept a very positive mindset about things, no matter how badly they were going. The Phantom of the Open is a production of Ingenious, Water & Power, Baby Cow Films, BBC Film, Cornerstone Films, and BFI. We didnt grasp how immense it was until we got to school on the Monday morning.. No, you dont, returned Gene. He withdrew after those, er, sterling 18 holes. Flitcroft practised on the beach near his home in Cumbria. 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