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. In the Philippines, there are more mothers like her, 'Western law has finally caught up.' [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. I heard he was writing a book and managed to track him down. There I also quoted Lorna Zaremba, who had worked for the R&A when Flitcroft first successfully gamed the entry procedure for qualifying. But James did not always like caddying because it often meant facing furious officials when Maurice had been rumbled. WebMaurice Flitcroft was the 'Phantom of the Open' - an undaunted amateur who tricked his way into competing among golf's elite. Bauer Media Group consists of: Bauer Consumer Media Ltd, Company number: 01176085; Bauer Radio Ltd, Company I think it's because for most of us, humiliation is our worst nightmare. I became aware of Flitcroft when he played that first time in the Open qualifier in 1976. Local golfing bigwigs were also none too pleased about Maurice having shown up the sport, and promptly blackballed him. For other inquiries, Contact Us. If you were given the opportunity to qualify for The Open tomorrow, would you feel confident of beating Maurices score? The Sun website is regulated by the Independent Press Standards Organisation (IPSO), Our journalists strive for accuracy but on occasion we make mistakes. Maurice worked as a crane operator with shipbuilders Vickers-Armstrongs in Barrow-in-Furness, Cumbria, and his wife Jean who died in 2002 was part of the secretarial staff there. Flitcroft was married to Jean (died 2002) by whom he had two sons, one of whom caddied for him. [4] At other times he worked as a shoe polish salesman and an ice cream man. It was one of my favorite books. That's the unlikely charade behind The Phantom of the Open, the latest in the seemingly never-ending stream of feel-good, based-on-a-true-story films cranked out by the British in recent years, in which an eccentric working-class underdog invariably becomes a folk hero by capturing the attention of a nation. Hes got to start somewhere, hasnt he? she said. I like true stories and I liked his character, especially the Don Quixote aspects of him. Most of the management played golf. 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. Well, it was the first film I made during the pandemic in 2020. His love for theater and music deemed not practical in difficult times. He is the subject of a biography, The Phantom of the Open, by Scott Murray and Simon Farnaby, published by Yellow Jersey Press in July 2010.[1]. Clips of Flitcrofts media appearances are shown towards the end to demonstrate that the Maurice Flitcroft. And Craig knows her from a film he wrote and directed called "Eternal Beauty" so thankfully Sally liked the script.". In those days, the juniors and the women were sort of second class citizens. 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. 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. Unlock All Content, Become A Subscriber Today. If we wanted cricket we had pads, balls, wickets. The next problem had to do with the venue. I think he shot in the low 90s." You were allowed to tee off for about five minutes every other Tuesday (laughing). We acknowledge Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples as the First Australians and Traditional Custodians of the lands where we live, learn, and work. 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. Arnold Palmtree, Count Manfred von Hoffmenstal and James Beau Jolley were other aliases Flitcroft used to try to dupe the R&A. Over the next decade, Flitcroft would continue in his attempts to enter the Open in a series of more outlandish identities, and the sight of Maurice in flagrantly fake disguises suggests an Andy Kaufman-like put-on that a more imaginative film might have indulged. Both Gene, who died in 2010, and James joined him on his capers up and down the land, sometimes acting as his caddy. Mark Rylance stars as Maurice Flitcroft, 'The World's Worst Golfer', in The Phantom of The Open. There was no mention of his playing in the Ryder Cup, but he hoped to have a series of lessons and get himself a handicap in the process. S hipyard crane operator Maurice Flitcroft (Mark Rylance) is contemplating a career change. He was dubbed the worlds worst golfer and made headlines around the world. He's embarrassed by his father's antics. If you love great journalism like this, you will love GGP+. 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. 2 and, by the time Ball No. He had his own definition of who he was, regardless of the contrary evidence. I know what Im doing, said Flitcroft. 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. 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 actually tried a few different things before he found golf. Maurice Flitcroft follows Seve Ballesteros at The Open. If it doesn't win Sports Book of the Year then life is more crooked than one of Maurice Flitcroft's drives\"--Dan Davies, Esquire Mark Rylance (centre), plays Maurice Flitcroft in The Phantom of The Open, which was written by Simon Farnaby (left), and directed by Craig Roberts (right). Farnaby wrote the script for the movie of the same name. 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. 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. He didn't know anything about golf. By the time he was halfway round the course, red-faced officials were urgently trying to persuade Maurice to retire gracefully. He was in somewhere he didn't belong. Flitcroft, along with his son, Gene, who was serving as his driver-cum-caddie, arrived on to the first tee with a minute to spare and, straightaway, Gene put an interested cluster of bystanders in the picture. Well, to punish him for signing up as a professional and making it impossible to play on any course was really unnecessary and nasty. There was a notice warning of vehicles on the adjacent country road and, by the time Gene had finished drawing our attention to it, there was no question as to where Flitcroft Sr. would hit. However, there was a serious side to Flitcrofts con trick: serious players missed out on playing in Open Qualifying as a result. No, you dont, returned Gene. A Swiss player supposedly by the name Gerald Hoppy managed nine holes at Pleasington in 1983. Maurice didn't like bullies. He gave Maurice that dignity and failure that he needed. I had met her when we both worked at the Royal Canadian Golf Association (now Golf Canada). Now his story is about to be told on the silver screen. Farnaby joined WBGO Studios podcast SportsJam with Doug Doyle to talk about the film, his career and his love for the game of golf and Flitcroft's legendary story. Are you kidding? Then, when someone drew his attention to how the 1976 Open was to be played not too far from Barrow-in-Furness at Birkdale to be precise there was no stopping him. Therell be less pressure that way, he said. It's a spirited account of fortitude, family, love, and of course, golf. His wife Jean noticed this and so informed 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. The Phantom of the Open, based on an eponymous book by Simon Farnaby and Scott Murray, is being distributed in the UK by eOne and will be screened in cinemas from 5 November. Gene would hear none of that, the reason being that he and his twin brother were disco-dancing champions who had always drawn strength from seeing fellow competitors in a spot of bother. Flitcroft recalled, "I was looking to find fame and fortune but only achieved one of the two". "I loved the book, Roald Dahl's book Charlie and the Chocolate Factory when I was a kid. She stands by him through thick and thin. Far fetched? Perhaps those who now work in the R&A entries department should raise a wee toast to Flitcroft once a year for giving them a job. Thats why the R&A were not best pleased with Flitcrofts shenanigans, or copy cats like Bo Brit, a Canadian who turned up in a pair of Cowboy boots a few years later who manged to con his way into Open Qualifying. 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.". Primary Navigation - Desktop (Horizontal). 3 had stopped just short of the green, patience was wearing a little thin. The film tells the true story of Maurice Flitcroft, a dreamer and unrelenting optimist, who managed to enter the 1976 British Open Golf So Maurice was assigned to a qualifying course. Maurice showed that one mustnt be put off thinking they will never be as good as so and so. The revue used to tour all the country and I would dive into this tank. Forthcoming movie The Phantom of the Open details golfs famed hoaxer. Alas, none of it ever happened. I saw Tiger Woods making a 10 on one hole. (Farnaby's ultimate paean to politeness, Paddington 2, for all its insufferable online fandom, at least had the good sense to include dramatic conflict.). (Supplied: Universal/Nick Wall) We first meet the aging Maurice Flitcroft played by Oscar-winning oddball Mark Rylance ( Bridge of Spies) in one of those 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. He knew writers in England, who helped him contact the couple. He says: Dad took it seriously deadly serious. AS unknown golfer Maurice Flitcroft teed up his ball to take a tilt at the sports most eminent tournament, something was clearly amiss. 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. 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. He recalls with a smile: I wasnt keen on the confrontation but Dad revelled in it.. Maurice Flitcroft, played by Mark Rylance in The Phantom of The Open, drew a band of supporters. The next minute hes got himself a set of clubs and is practising every day.. It's what the current parlance might call shudder 'nicecore'. He had been true to his word. Wonder if Flitcrofts life will be glammed up? He kind of sees himself in Maurice Flitcroft. He and Ballesteros might have been miles apart in terms of talent, but they had one thing in common: they both learned to play on a beach. James adds: One weekend he went away and we didnt think anything of it. He has been a journalist for more than 10 years and was shortlisted for Bauer Media Journalist of the Year in 2019. If this wasn't enough, another green had a 12-inch (300mm) cup. Rylance connects to the contradictions in Maurice's childlike mind; to his dreamy optimism and his neglect of responsibility elements that the film hints at but can't quite reconcile, because it's too enamoured with its warm-blanket world view. They were an old-fashioned couple, James says: They supported each other in every endeavour. Mark Rylance, a highly regarded British stage and film actor who had a significant role in the Netflix film Dont Look Up, and who seemingly can take on any role, plays Flitcroft. He has written and appeared in films such as Mindhorn and Paddington 2, and in the BBC sitcom Detectorists. His first encounter with the sport came via television as he watched Tom Watson win the 1975 Open Championship. I love that about him as well, but just the sheer fearlessness I suppose. Flitcroft planned to use his wedge; Gene said that he should take his putter. [1] Other more ludicrous names used were Arnold Palmtree and Count Manfred von Hoffmanstel, together with physical disguises such as wearing a false moustache and dark glasses. Maurice is mesmerized watching an unfamiliar sport. The Phantom of the Open is a gem that deserves to be seen. 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. If a spectral Englishman could appear on Soul Train and a Southern peanut farmer could win the 39th presidency, then why couldn't a middle-aged crane driver from Barrow-in-Furness pass himself off as a professional golfer and compete in the British Open, despite having zero experience and even less talent? He got the brilliant idea to invite Mr. and Mrs. Flitcroft to the tournament the next year. He even meets a charismatic young Spanish pro by name of Seve Ballesteros. To inquire about a licence to reproduce material, visit our Syndication site. 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 I spoke to Flitcroft via telephone when I worked for Golf Monthly in the mid 1990s. Mark Rylance plays Maurice Flitcroft in The Phantom of The Open. The R&A did not screen applications from pros, Lorna said. He withdrew after those, er, sterling 18 holes. Flitcroft prepared for the tournament by studying a golf instruction manual by Peter Alliss which was borrowed from his local library. I said, Dad, we have to take the tent down.. 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. Flitcroft said of his performance, "I wasn't playing too well. A limo picked them up. RELATED: Maurice Flitcrofts incredible story. We filmed in the south at a few different courses. Six Canadians are in the field at the Arnold Palmer Invitational while David Hearn pegs in Puerto Rico. Wiki4All. His shots did not improve, as he blasted into bushes and skewed simple putts. [4], Flitcroft was born in Manchester on 23 November 1929. [1][2] Subsequently, he gained significant media coverage, being referred to as "the world's worst golfer". Maurice Gerald Flitcroft (23 November 1929 24 March 2007) was a British golfer. I wrote in a Globe and Mail column on May 19, 1988 that prizes included fishbowls with live goldfish and used bowling balls. I have no chance of qualifying, Flitcroft said. in a recent interview on the PGA website. It worked. Maurice's awful treatment from the local golf clubs is disheartening. Farnaby grew up around golf and first remembers hearing about Flitcroft when he was around 11 years old. We have kept that throughout life. Director Craig Roberts (Just Jim, Eternal Beauty), also a successful character actor, takes the time to establish Maurice's golf ineptitude. So he took up golf; well, sort of. "I think Steven Spielberg said Mark Rylance is the best actor in the world. What is more, a belly full of media interviews had hardly made him feel any better. He did try again in 1991, but a sharp-eyed employee recognized his signature. "I've tried to work out what it is about what we really love about him. He had told his bosses he was ill, so it came as a great surprise to them to see photos of him strolling along behind Seve Ballesteros at the Open after failing to qualify. The film's best dramatic moments have a reckoning between them. Maurice gets invited to play in the British Open. He perseveres in practice until a clerical error results in an astounding development. I did watch a lot of golf on TV during the filming. But he was a self-anointed professional, right? While the brothers took a fair amount of ribbing, it was far worse for Maurice who was given his marching orders from work. An avid film buff, he feels lucky to have interviewed and written extensively about Hollywood's greatest talents. 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. They'd call him shipyard fodder. Help keep family & friends informed by sharing this article, Marie has been charged with reprehensible crimes. The form presented problems because it was asking if he was an amateur or a professional. 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. James says: We took up golf when we were ten or 11. His entry was accepted. Required fields are marked *. Flitcroft sent in his entry form for the 1977 championship; the R&A rejected it. In 2017 comedian and writer Simon Farnaby, who co-wrote a biography of Flitcroft, stated that he was writing a film script based on the book. [6] The Phantom of the Open, directed by Craig Roberts, starring Mark Rylance and Sally Hawkins, opened at the London Film Festival in October 2021 before a wider release in March 2022. Indeed, his is not a story that ended with that ignominious Open defeat. Years later in the early seventies, the Vickers-Armstrongs company decides to cut its work force. He was the most besotted golfer I ever met. Undeterred, Maurice practised hitting balls along his local beach, in the park, on school grounds and sometimes by sneaking on to courses at night. Henrik Stenson was emerging from a previous showing when I arrived at the theatre. Get the latest from WBGO right to your inbox: music, articles, events, discounts and more. 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. A smitten Maurice proposes marriage. Okay, maybe just a tad. The dissonance gives The Phantom of the Open what passes for a point of curiosity, with Rylance getting at something some essential derangement, whether from trauma, mental illness, or a childhood dream quashed that the script can't conjure, in a film that seems to be happening beyond the frame, where only he can see it. We first meet Maurice Flitcroft (Rylance) sitting for a television interview. [6], In a July 2006 article in Golfonline, Flitcroft said, "I was in show business. First, Flitcroft was no different to any of the other well-known names of the day in asking for appearance money and expenses. He always kept a very positive mindset about things, no matter how badly they were going. Flitcroft, then 46, became a popular figure after shooting 121 in the qualifying round. 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. Based on the biography from Simon Farnaby, The Phantom of the Open tells the hilarious and truly heartwarming story of a kind man brimming with optimism. You feel confident of beating Maurices score Marie has been charged with reprehensible.. 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