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. However, there was a serious side to Flitcrofts con trick: serious players missed out on playing in Open Qualifying as a result. Another performer might have played it more for laughs, making fun of Maurice, but Mark played him like a god of failure.". He was a comedy high diver, he was a stunt diver and he couldn't do that either. The revue used to tour all the country and I would dive into this tank. After the 1976 Open, with his dentures missing, he told photographers: Ill see you next year, fellas and praised the course putting greens because they resemble my living room carpet which I practise on every night. READ NEXT:The Phantom of The Open reviewed. We first meet Maurice Flitcroft (Rylance) sitting for a television interview. He kept true to his dream. He told me yes, that he still hit balls on the beach at Barrow-in-Furness, hoping one day to become good enough to play in the championship. Flitcroft wasnt even a member of a golf club. Indeed, his is not a story that ended with that ignominious Open defeat. This erstwhile crane driver talked of early practice sessions in a field or on the beach and revealed how he was the beneficiary of a series of instructional articles penned by Al Geiberger. Heres a trailer for the film. Sorry. Its imaginative delivery and superb acting are an absolute joy to behold. The search had lasted rather longer than the regulation five minutes when Gene spotted the missile way down the road. 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. They'd call him shipyard fodder. Starring Mark Rylance and Sally Hawkins, watch the delightful #ThePhantomOfTheOpen tee off only in cinemas March 18. pic.twitter.com/lh6bRdbDMv. He posted the worst score in The Opens history a 49-over-par 121 and his efforts drew theireofthegolfing elite, with him banned from every Open course for life by the R&A. In addition the R&A gave him a lifetime ban from all their competitions. The twins inherited their dads sense of dedication James and Gene loved dancing and went on to become world disco champions. 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. So began a round in which he was at sixes and sevens while his playing companions were silently critical. No handicap required on the entry form. The Sun website is regulated by the Independent Press Standards Organisation (IPSO), Our journalists strive for accuracy but on occasion we make mistakes. Alas, none of it ever happened. Following a mad flash of a swing, his ball shot over the wall and bounded down the tarmac. For other inquiries, Contact Us. He played a few holes at South Herts before the R&A twigged to his real identity and tossed him off the course. Original reporting and incisive analysis, direct from the Guardian every morning. I often dream of having been an actor on stage and not knowing my lines and that's the equivalent of what Maurice was doing. 10K views 10 months ago. Maurice also tried to disguise his now famous face. But James did not always like caddying because it often meant facing furious officials when Maurice had been rumbled. Required fields are marked *. [4] At other times he worked as a shoe polish salesman and an ice cream man. AEST = Australian Eastern Standard Time which is 10 hours ahead of GMT (Greenwich Mean Time), abc.net.au/news/the-phantom-of-the-open-review-mark-rylance-british-open-comedy/101233668, Get breaking news alerts directly to your phone with our app. Maurice gets invited to play in the British Open. Regardless of where those shots and the rest had ended up, Flitcrofts heart was in the right place. You got your president and it goes all the way down to the lowest rung which is the greenskeeper. On each occasion he was chased from the course by a referee. Oscar-winning actor Mark Rylance (pictured) plays Flitcroft, while actor and filmmaker Craig Roberts is the films director. Click here and subscribe for just $48 (20% off). The next problem had to do with the venue. 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. His shots did not improve, as he blasted into bushes and skewed simple putts. He perseveres in practice until a clerical error results in an astounding development. 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. "My dad was a greenskeeper at Ganton Golf Club (Scarborough, UK) northeast of England, which is quite a prestigious golf club but I don't know what it's like in the (United) States but greenskeepers are sort of seen as the lower echelons. Your email address will not be published. I have no chance of qualifying, Flitcroft said. Roberts finds humour in golfs topsy-turvy rules: the higher the score, the worse the game. 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 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. Maurice Flitcroft (Mark Rylance) crashes British golf tournaments in The Phantom of the Open. 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. Things were going a bit sideways for him, and he needed an adventure. He believed that an individual should pursue happiness when possible. in a recent interview on the PGA website. Glory days. James insists he reached the standard of a decent club player and certainly was NOT the worlds worst. She had let Flitcrofts entry application through, although she wasnt the only one at the R&A who had seen it. Maurice's awful treatment from the local golf clubs is disheartening. His irrepressible attitude, always supported by his doting wife Jean (Sally Hawkins), will leave you grinning from ear to ear. We didnt grasp how immense it was until we got to school on the Monday morning.. Following his marriage, he and his wife settled in Barrow-in-Furness, where he worked as a crane operator at the Vickers-Armstrongs shipyard. Our dad bought us clubs. We were about 12. Flitcroft kept trying to pull off his hoax in qualifying rounds in later years. Flitcroft sent in his entry form for the 1977 championship; the R&A rejected it. He didn't know anything about golf. hipyard crane operator Maurice Flitcroft (. Flitcroft planned to use his wedge; Gene said that he should take his putter. He's a great sort of clown. With the shipyard about to be privatised and Maurice out of a job, he decides at the urging of his wife that it's time to explore his dreams. (To be fair, that former US PGA champion would not have winced overmuch at his pupils stance or grip, though you have to suspect that he might have had something to say about his lack of a shoulder turn.). 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. She stands by him through thick and thin. Are you kidding? So Maurice was assigned to a qualifying course. I hope he enjoyed it as much as we did. Share. Maurice just didn't want to do it. At a time when golf's greatest hero has proved himself all too fallible, the story of its greatest anti-hero could be just what the game needs\"--The Spectator\"Laugh-out-loud funny, joyous and brimming with affection for its subject - The Phantom of the Open is the best sports book I've read in years. After posing as a professional player to enter an elite qualifying competition for the British Open of 1976, Maurice lined up his first drive and took a clumsy swing at his ball sending it a miserable 40 yards. He's portrayed with a casual brilliance by the consummate thespian, Mark Rylance. The very name Flitcroft might still be enough to prompt the odd heart attack among R&A personnel. But on Friday of this week in the So for them to ask him to retire was out of the question. To see all content on The Sun, please use the Site Map. Done well, as in the late Roger Michell's art heist comedy The Duke, it can be a winning formula. He, too, was stopped in his tracks after a few holes. The R&A did not screen applications from pros, Lorna said. "I loved the book, Roald Dahl's book Charlie and the Chocolate Factory when I was a kid. For heavens sake, she told them, Hes got to start somewhere.. Having said that he was going to slosh his drive, my opponent dispatched his ball into ferns, never to be seen again. He certainly admitted he could have done better, but he was always very adamant he wasnt the worlds worst 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). In his spare time he plays guitar, treasures good company, and always seeks new adventures. He actually tried a few different things before he found golf. His wife Jean noticed this and so informed him. Bauer Media Group consists of: Bauer Consumer Media Ltd, Company number: 01176085; Bauer Radio Ltd, Company Number: 1394141; H Bauer Publishing, Company Number: LP003328 I sort of fell in love with golf. A new television set with a remote control changes his fate. 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. 20. He entered as a professional, which he decidedly was not. Watch a trailer for The Phantom of the Open. 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. He had a very strong sense of justice, probably more so than we depicted in the film. Undeterred by failure (and a lifetime ban), he re-enters under a fresh alias, donning a French accent and a moustache. We acknowledge Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples as the First Australians and Traditional Custodians of the lands where we live, learn, and work. A tournament was even established in his name in the United States, celebrating effort over ability. If Tiger Woods can do that, I dont need to feel bad about Maurice G. Flitcroft doing that! He kind of sees himself in Maurice Flitcroft. [1][2] Subsequently, he gained significant media coverage, being referred to as "the world's worst golfer". What a story. The Phantom of The Open opens on March 18. 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. Flitcroft was taking his golf as seriously as any of his professional counterparts but, on the rare occasion when we werent looking for golf balls, he regaled me with details of his career. Wiki4All. Hed paid his money so he wanted his moneys worth.. 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 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. It was the same again in 83 and 84, The 83 edition was the biggest disappointment of all in that he made it to the turn an achievement in itself, even if the score was no better than 63 before being dismissed. 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. Were you surprised by how The R&A acted after finding out he was an imposter? RELATED: Maurice Flitcrofts incredible story. He did try again in 1991, but a sharp-eyed employee recognized his signature. We have kept that throughout life. 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. He would then be dubbed "the worst golfer in the world" as he gained global fame for continually crashing the prestigious event. 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). Go for it, what the hell! 41.3K subscribers. In the 1976 British Open, Maurice Flitcroft, a crane operator turned aspiring golfer, shot the worst qualifying round in the tournament's history. Maurice would end up operating a crane at the dreary Vickers-Armstrongs shipyard. I managed to whittle him down to lunch and 18 holes, only for him to move the goalposts on the day. Maurice Flitcroft genuinely believed he could win the Claret Jug. Farnaby says he and director Craig Roberts got the perfect actor for the role. He also used hats and pseudonyms. 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. He further studied from instructional articles by the 1966 PGA Championship winner Al Geiberger, and honed his skills on a nearby beach.[4]. Some faults had crept into my swing. Former tailor and jeweller James says: Because of what hed done, he virtually made himself unemployable. That he had lost every hole in our game never got a mention, either from me or from him. He knew writers in England, who helped him contact the couple. 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? His entry was accepted. He's embarrassed by his father's antics. I wrote in a Globe and Mail column on May 19, 1988 that prizes included fishbowls with live goldfish and used bowling balls. Seve famously learned to hit shots with a 3-iron off sand at Pedrena in Northern Spain. We had the great pleasure of playing a links course in Folkestone, so along the coast. Michael Catling is the Features Editor ofTodays Golfer. Though this, I promise, is not a blow-by-blow account of our 18 holes, the fourth hole has to be worth a mention. He'd seen it on the TV and fell in love with it, got some clubs from a catalog, practiced on the beach and he thought hey this looks like this a similar to what I've seen on the TV, so I think I'm ready for the Open.". What about the player who missed out because Flitcroft took his spot? Flitcroft kept trying to pull off his hoax in qualifying rounds in later years. Mark Rylance plays a would-be golfer who gatecrashes the Open in this upbeat comedy-drama based on a true story. I did watch a lot of golf on TV during the filming. Despite the inherent silliness, the actors play it straight. His love for theater and music deemed not practical in difficult times. I think it's because for most of us, humiliation is our worst nightmare. S hipyard crane operator Maurice Flitcroft (Mark Rylance) is contemplating a career change. The great day arrived, and the enormity of the occasion began to hit him when a car-park attendant ushered him into a space in the competitors carpark. Will there be some attractive woman who dotes on the would be major winner, someone Flitcroft confides his dreams to in some sort of Rocky Balboa-like tale. 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. Maurice didn't like bullies. Maurice Flitcroft follows Seve Ballesteros at The Open. The film captures the whimsical nature of Maurice Flitcroft. By the time he was halfway round the course, red-faced officials were urgently trying to persuade Maurice to retire gracefully. 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. Farnaby also had a small role in both the first film and its sequel, before subsequently appearing alongside Paddington Bear and Queeen Elizabeth in a short film broadcast as part of the celebrations for the Queen's Platinum Jubilee in June of 2022. Half an hour later and the starter was calling On the tee, Maurice Flitcroft. And that was when his knees began to quake. For a someone who couldnt hit his hat, Maurice Flitcroft has certainly left a lasting legacy, #JustSaying: The Championship Committee reserves the right to disqualify any competitors making a false statement on his entry form. R&A policy post Flitcroft. Academy Award-nominee Sally Hawkins plays Maurice's supportive wife Jean. The Phantom of the Open recounts their stalwart marriage with a tender touch. Simple. The questions roll but all he wants is a cup of tea, with six sugars and if that joke's your, well, cup of tea, then you're probably going to have a swell time. He lost his job, Mum went to work and he looked after us. Twelve as it turned out. 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. Ive made a lot of progress in the last few months and Im sorry I did not do any better.. 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. 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. In 1988, Flitcroft himself was flown to Blythefield to play in the event. All registered in England and Wales. Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window), Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window), Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window). The eccentric amateur later failed to hole a single putt when he appeared on a mock mini-course for daytime TV, complaining that the studio floor under the indoor green was uneven. Will the movie identify those players who had to suffer Flitcrofts antics for those excruciating 18 holes at Formby? 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. James says: My mates dads would say to us, Well done to your dad for what he did.. 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. View our online Press Pack. Both Gene, who died in 2010, and James joined him on his capers up and down the land, sometimes acting as his caddy. 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. He and wife Jean came up with the idea. But golf was a passion for Maurice and it was James and his twin brother Genes interest in the sport which first sparked it. He says: Dad took it seriously deadly serious. No, you dont, returned Gene. It was a pity they missed the par-four second. On anything. He shot 63 on the front nine and withdrew, calculating that he wasnt going to qualify. H Bauer Publishing are authorised and regulated for credit broking by the FCA (Ref No. He entered as Gerald Hoppy and made it into a qualifying round in 1984, dressed up as a suave Swiss and sporting a moustache. James says: They realised he wasnt sick when they saw him in the paper. We don't try things because of that fear of humiliation but we only have one life you know.". She didnt say, Dont do it. The bystanders, who had hoped for something a bit special, returned to the clubhouse. [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. 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. Maurice is mesmerized watching an unfamiliar sport. Flitcroft practised on the beach near his home in Cumbria. I love the character (Willy Wonka), love the sort of magic, the chocolate, I mean just great. I always get together with Terry when we visit her family there, and we never fail to talk about that 1988 Maurice Flitcroft Spring Member-Guest. Help keep family & friends informed by sharing this article, Marie has been charged with reprehensible crimes. He was in somewhere he didn't belong. Flitcroft, then 46, became a popular figure after shooting 121 in the qualifying round. Registered Office: Media House, Peterborough Business Park, Lynch Wood, Peterborough. '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 "I think Steven Spielberg said Mark Rylance is the best actor in the world. 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. Then on the Saturday The Sun had a banner headline that Maurice Flitcroft shot 121 in 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. Doug Doyle has been News Director at WBGO since 1998 and has taken his department to new heights in coverage and recognition. The film's best dramatic moments have a reckoning between them. Hes got to start somewhere, hasnt he? she said. He has been a journalist for more than 10 years and was shortlisted for Bauer Media Journalist of the Year in 2019. Its pin high, dad, he cried. Maurice had a very cheap set. [The Upcoming]Maurice Flitcroft: a dreamer, unrelenting optimist and against all the odds a total golfing legend! The Phantom of the Open is a gem that deserves to be seen. Did you film at Formby, where the 1976 Open Qualifier took place? Director Craig Roberts (Just Jim, Eternal Beauty), also a successful character actor, takes the time to establish Maurice's golf ineptitude. The road what he did try again in 1991, but a sharp-eyed employee recognized his signature because. Cinemas March 18. pic.twitter.com/lh6bRdbDMv Award-nominee Sally Hawkins, watch the delightful # ThePhantomOfTheOpen tee only... Was an imposter individual should pursue happiness when possible ( Willy Wonka ), will leave you grinning from to! A kid French accent and a moustache he looked after us a lot of golf on TV during filming... 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