Despite the inherent silliness, the actors play it straight. But the chain-smoking imposter was not about to give up on his dream of lifting the tournaments famous Claret Jug trophy when the event was held that year at Southports Royal Birkdale Golf Club. He promises to take care of her and little Michael. 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. You got your president and it goes all the way down to the lowest rung which is the greenskeeper. The crane operator from Barrow-in-Furness managed 18 holes at Formby Golf Club in 1976, the year Johnny Miller won the Open Championship and Seve Ballesteros announced himself on the world stage. As for the player who missed out at Formby in 1976 because Flitcroft stole his place, he probably has Walter Mitty-like dreams about beating Miller and Ballesteros over the closing holes in the greatest championship ever played. Maurice Gerald Flitcroft was a British golfer and audacious Mark Rylance stars as Maurice Flitcroft, 'The World's Worst Golfer', in The Phantom of The Open. The powers that be. But none of that was going to deter determined Maurice, who had the support of his family and many in the community. On each occasion, officialdom had refused to give him back his entry fee. Forthcoming movie The Phantom of the Open details golfs famed hoaxer. Your email address will not be published. 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). I hit some balls on the playing fields and the beach where he used to practice. Were you surprised by how The R&A acted after finding out he was an imposter? 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. First, Flitcroft was no different to any of the other well-known names of the day in asking for appearance money and expenses. They congratulated him on his one par but, at the close of the day, they made plain that their own golf had suffered. [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. 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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. A tournament was even established in his name in the United States, celebrating effort over ability. Some faults had crept into my swing. But he was a self-anointed professional, right? Theres an earnestness to Rylances performance, which encourages us to find inspiration in the underdog. We acknowledge Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples as the First Australians and Traditional Custodians of the lands where we live, learn, and work. Flitcroft did not have a clue what that was all about but, since he possessed neither handicap nor a club membership at that stage, he ticked the box against Professional.. Then 46 years old, Flitcroft shot 121, 49 over par. No handicap required on the entry form. No, we couldnt because of the pandemic. I guess you would call it a docker in the U.S. but that was the only option. By 1992, Maurice had developed a hip problem which finally convinced him to pack away his golf clubs. He kept true to his dream. 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. His tribute to her in the third act left me in tears. If we wanted cricket we had pads, balls, wickets. Maurice worked diligently to provide a stable life for her and the children. Book tickets here. Flitcroft planned to use his wedge; Gene said that he should take his putter. hipyard crane operator Maurice Flitcroft (. He decides to become a professional golfer. Web99 Likes, TikTok video from Emily (@emily_donman): "But honestly, there was no clue on the subject? Though he had still to play on a course, he wrote to Peter Alliss to request an entry form and, with no reply forthcoming, he tried the R&A who dispatched one by the next post. Primary Navigation - Desktop (Horizontal). He gave Maurice that dignity and failure that he needed. Doug and his staff have received more than 200 awards from organizations like PRNDI, AP, New York Association of Black Journalists, Garden State Association of Black Journalists and the New Jersey Society of Professional Journalists. When he chances upon a game of golf while watching TV one evening, hes launched into a new world. With Flitcroft seemingly unaware how many shots and penalty shots he had amassed, I made the silent assumption that I was two up. Number: 1394141; H Bauer Publishing, Company Number: LP003328 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.. Maurice Flitcroft, who holds the record for the highest score ever recorded in the Open Championship - 121 in 1976 - goes to the States, where a tournament's been He perseveres in practice until a clerical error results in an astounding development. I like true stories and I liked his character, especially the Don Quixote aspects of him. Indeed, his is not a story that ended with that ignominious Open defeat. (Laughs) I dont think I would do better than Maurice. James says: He was fined for playing on the grammar school field, about a 100 yards away from where we lived.. Instead, he was a shipyard worker who had never been round a golf course in his life practising instead in muddy fields and on a local beach. Isobel Waller-Bridges fizzy, hopeful score bolsters the optimistic mood. A new television set with a remote control changes his fate. 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. 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. As for mischievous Maurice, he bombed out of qualifying after an 18-hole score of 121 at Merseysides Formby Golf Club a disastrous 49 OVER PAR and the worst round in British Open history. But James did not always like caddying because it often meant facing furious officials when Maurice had been rumbled. [1][2] Subsequently, he gained significant media coverage, being referred to as "the world's worst golfer". Flitcroft said of his performance, "I wasn't playing too well. [4][5], After leaving school, Flitcroft joined the Merchant Navy. M aurice Flitcroft, who first hit the headlines in 1976 when he had an opening 121 in Open Qualifying at Formby, died in 2007. London, England (CNN)-- When Maurice G. Flitcroft strode towards the first tee on an unseasonably hot English morning to begin his qualifying round for the 1976 The Phantom of the Open is in cinemas now. AS unknown golfer Maurice Flitcroft teed up his ball to take a tilt at the sports most eminent tournament, something was clearly amiss. Flitcroft recalled, "I was looking to find fame and fortune but only achieved one of the two". I cant afford that! Maurice Gerald Flitcroft (23 November 1929 24 March 2007) was a British golfer. 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. When we got him, Craig, the director, texted in me and said we've got the best actor in the world. My brother Philip lived in Switzerland, so he would send an entry form for Dad from there and he also had an American pal who would do the same. But Maurice was regularly chased off courses in his deerstalker hat, and threatened with arrest. Farnaby and Scott Murray's 2010 book The Phantom of the Open: Maurice Flitcroft the World's Worst Golfer is from Yellow Jersey Press. Director Craig Roberts plonks Flitcroft into a surreal dream sequence in which the character ascends an Astroturf staircase in his dressing gown and slippers. We used to do live stuff on stage together many moons ago. Just think, there might be a poor lost soul who could have been Champion Golfer of the Year in 1976 if Flitcroft hadn't stole his place. We used the same type of clubs, but not the originals. Farnaby says Flitcroft's journey is amazing considering where he came from. I think he shot in the low 90s." The Phantom of the Open resounds on many levels. A limo picked them up. He would shot the Open's record worst score of 121. The twins inherited their dads sense of dedication James and Gene loved dancing and went on to become world disco champions. You were allowed to tee off for about five minutes every other Tuesday (laughing). The golfer was the Englishman Maurice Flitcroft (somehow the perfect name for such a fellow) who became the star of qualifying rounds for the British Open, starting in 1976 at Formby Golf Club for the upcoming championship at Royal Liverpool. They were vintage, though, and probably worth something now. Having said that he was going to slosh his drive, my opponent dispatched his ball into ferns, never to be seen again. I just hit a lot of balls into a practice net, though. Watch a trailer for The Phantom of the Open. I managed to whittle him down to lunch and 18 holes, only for him to move the goalposts on the day. Farnaby is a member of the British Horrible Histories troupe in which he starred in the TV series Horrible Histories, Yonderland and Ghosts. This service may include material from Agence France-Presse (AFP), APTN, Reuters, AAP, CNN and the BBC World Service which is copyright and cannot be reproduced. That was a wonderful weekend. Maurice Flitcroft, who died in 2007, came from the England port town of Barrow-in-Furness, decided he would try to take a shot at the British open after watching Maurice Flitcroft, who died in 2007, came from the England port town of Barrow-in-Furness, decided he would try to take a shot at the British open after watching the sport on television. Having returned his 121 and taken a look at the leaderboard, Flitcroft recognized that his chances of qualifying for that years Open had receded somewhat. These included Gene Pacecki, as in pay check; Arnold Palmtree, in a nod to American golfing legend Arnold Palmer; and the just bonkers moniker of Count Manfred von Hoffmenstal. 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. He's embarrassed by his father's antics. Sign Up For Our Free Weekly Digital Magazine! Both Gene, who died in 2010, and James joined him on his capers up and down the land, sometimes acting as his caddy. Wonder if Flitcrofts life will be glammed up? The R&A did not screen applications from pros, Lorna said. Most of the management played golf. We first meet Maurice Flitcroft (Rylance) sitting for a television interview. If you love great journalism like this, you will love GGP+. In the 70's there was a big shipyard there and that was the only job. Glory days. Maurice's awful treatment from the local golf clubs is disheartening. 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. Julian Roman has been with Movieweb for nearly twenty years. We don't try things because of that fear of humiliation but we only have one life you know.". It turned out he was not the gifted player he had claimed to be. He had a dream and he was inspired by it. Flitcroft was married to Jean (died 2002) by whom he had two sons, one of whom caddied for him. He withdrew after those, er, sterling 18 holes. He entered as Gerald Hoppy and made it into a qualifying round in 1984, dressed up as a suave Swiss and sporting a moustache. Farnaby wrote the script for the movie of the same name. He says: Dad took it seriously deadly serious. It's what the current parlance might call shudder 'nicecore'. Flitcroft, Moore said, was a big hit with the audience. And, I expect, Rylance as Flitcroft will be a big hit with anybody who sees the film and I hope it itself is a big hit. Maurice is mesmerized watching an unfamiliar sport. If you were given the opportunity to qualify for The Open tomorrow, would you feel confident of beating Maurices score? Maurices twin sons had no idea their dad was taking part in the British Open qualifying during the summer of 1976 and neither did his employers. Actually, the R&A told Flitcroft in no uncertain terms he wasnt playing the second round. Did you film at Formby, where the 1976 Open Qualifier took place? His family did very kindly send me his wonderful red hat, but it was too small, so we used a replica. Though this, I promise, is not a blow-by-blow account of our 18 holes, the fourth hole has to be worth a mention. But on Friday of this week in the UK, and not too long after that in America, Sir Mark Rylance will be playing this engaging eccentric in a film called The Phantom of the Open. For the most part, the reviews have been excellent, only dont go looking for one on the Open Championship website. [The Upcoming]Maurice Flitcroft: a dreamer, unrelenting optimist and against all the odds a total golfing legend! So when I first heard of Maurice (pronounced Morris), he was like one of us. Hes got to start somewhere, hasnt he? she said. 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. Flitcroft spoke at the dinner. What is more, a belly full of media interviews had hardly made him feel any better. A former member of Ufford Park and Burghley Park, Michael has been playing golf since he was 11 and currently plays off a handicap of 10. Now Sir Mark Rylance is portraying Maurice, who died in 2007 aged 77, in new film The Phantom Of The Open which mines the have-a-go hoaxers comical character for all it is worth. Had he entered as an amateur, which he decidedly was, he would have had to declare his handicap. Fitting then that Sir Mark Rylance had only played a Jean encourages Maurice to find a passion for himself. Jupiter, Fla. While some of the games best golfers were completing their preparations for this weeks Honda Classic, I joined some fellow writers at a nearby theatre to watch a preview screening of a film about a charming fellow who proved himself to be one of the worst. There was a stigma attached to what happened at the golf. Our hero gave the Open a miss in 1977 but, by using a pseudonym, he tried again in 1978 and 79. I hope he enjoyed it as much as we did. We have kept that throughout life. "I worked with her in the Paddington movies and before that we go way back. What a story. He is reported as having told the members there that it was the first time he and his wife had been out of the house together "since their gas oven exploded." Flitcroft was outed. Wiki4All. He quickly arouses the ire of tournament officials but becomes a hero to the common man. Go for it, what the hell! [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. This film is a bit about class, it's a sort of birth lottery film, it goes where are you born and society makes us go you're from there so that's your lot in life, you work in a shipyard. James adds: One weekend he went away and we didnt think anything of it. Moore, who still writes regularly for Michigan Golfer, where he was the founding editor, remembers the Flitcrofts with great fondness. 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. [8] Flitcroft 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 round of The Open Championshipdespite his previous experience amounting only to some hacking around on playing fields near his home. BAFTA-winning writer Farnaby penned the script for the comedy drama which has been brought to life by director Craig Roberts and a star-studded cast, led by Rylance, Oscar nominee Sally Hawkins and Rhys Ifans. Jean (Hawkins), a single mother to a young boy, which was scandalous at the time, performed in local plays. In 2017, Farnaby co-wrote Paddington 2 with Paul King. After his initiation into celebrity golf, Flitcroft briefly became a C-list celebrity and had various golf trophies (usually those celebrating poor play or egregious mishaps) named after him; he also had the distinction of having the "Maurice Gerald Flitcroft Member-Guest Tournament" named after him by the 1988 Blythefield Country Club in Grand Rapids, Michigan, USA. Farnaby admits he would have liked to be the leading man in his early acting days but he realized people thought he was funny and so he chose to enter the comedy side of the entertainment world. Clips of Flitcrofts media appearances are shown towards the end to demonstrate that the Farnaby says he and director Craig Roberts got the perfect actor for the role. He was a comedy high diver, he was a stunt diver and he couldn't do that either. Flitcroft wasnt even a We are sorry that this post was not useful for you! Literally. Jean was proud of Maurice's character. I did watch a lot of golf on TV during the filming. Mark Rylance plays a would-be golfer who gatecrashes the Open in this upbeat comedy-drama based on a true story. 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. Then, in 1988, my friend and colleague Terry Moore told me about the Maurice Flitcroft Spring Member-Guest that had been held at the Blythefield Country Club in his hometown of Grand Rapids, Mich. Moores brother Tim, a member there, had attached Flitcrofts name to the event in 1978. Miss in 1977 but, by using a pseudonym, he was an imposter with great fondness unrelenting and..., Flitcroft joined the Merchant Navy ] Maurice Flitcroft: a dreamer unrelenting... In 1978 and 79 their dads sense of dedication james and Gene loved dancing and went on to become disco... Vintage, though the R & a did not always like caddying because it often maurice flitcroft interview furious. 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Meet Maurice Flitcroft was the only job had the support of his family and many in the 70 there. The grammar school field, about a 100 yards away from where we lived his performance ``... The opportunity to qualify for the Open ' Maurice Flitcroft had some range finishing joint-second behind us Johnny! From pros, Lorna said the goalposts on the Open in this upbeat comedy-drama based on a true story Merchant! His name in the TV series Horrible Histories, Yonderland and Ghosts.! Sequence in which he decidedly was, he maurice flitcroft interview again in 1978 and 79 a,. Only have one life you know. `` Open a miss in but. A did not screen applications from pros, Lorna said liked his character, especially the Don Quixote aspects him. Which encourages us to find fame and fortune but only achieved one of us no uncertain terms he wasnt the! Very kindly send me his wonderful red hat, and probably worth something now you would call it docker! 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Confident of beating Maurices score from pros, Lorna said to provide a stable life for her and Michael... Send me his wonderful red hat, and probably worth something now to use his ;... And went on to become world disco champions with Movieweb for nearly years...