He promises to take care of her and little Michael. Share. 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'. 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. Well, to punish him for signing up as a professional and making it impossible to play on any course was really unnecessary and nasty. Since Flitcroft had been banned from courses near his home in Barrow-in-Furness for bringing the game into disrepute, we had to go elsewhere and, as luck would have it, Windermere officials were fine with the idea. Are you kidding? 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. [1][2] Subsequently, he gained significant media coverage, being referred to as "the world's worst golfer". Most of the management played golf. Maurice Flitcroft follows Seve Ballesteros at The Open. Had he entered as an amateur, which he decidedly was, he would have had to declare his handicap. Henrik Stenson was emerging from a previous showing when I arrived at the theatre. The R&A did not screen applications from pros, Lorna said. 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. In the 1976 British Open, Maurice Flitcroft, a crane operator turned aspiring golfer, shot the worst qualifying round in the tournament's history. Like that film, he has a light comedic touch and feel for the milieu he's sketching, giving us a mid-70s that feels authentically uncool: three TV channels; ABBA and Leo Sayer on the soundtrack; white people in overalls dancing to disco at dinky community halls a world where nothing, and thus everything, seems possible. Farnaby wrote the screenplay. In 2017, Farnaby co-wrote Paddington 2 with Paul King. Soon enough the bumbling Northerner is competing in the qualifying round of the 1976 Open where his infamous round of 121 becomes the championship's all-time worst score, and his legend is born. 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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. Alas, none of it ever happened. I have no chance of qualifying, Flitcroft said. 41.3K subscribers. The film's best dramatic moments have a reckoning between them. I never actually played a full 18-hole round. Its the more-or-less true story of Maurice Flitcroft, a crane operator for Vickers-Armstrongs shipyard in Barrow-in-Furness who took up golf in his mid-forties after seeing it I saw Tiger Woods making a 10 on one hole. "I think Steven Spielberg said Mark Rylance is the best actor in the world. Flitcroft spoke at the dinner. Hes flung around the world like a golf ball, dizzy with the sense of possibility. Moore, who still writes regularly for Michigan Golfer, where he was the founding editor, remembers the Flitcrofts with great fondness. 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. It will be released theatrically in the United States on June 3rd from Sony Pictures Classics. He got the brilliant idea to invite Mr. and Mrs. Flitcroft to the tournament the next year. But golf was a passion for Maurice and it was James and his twin brother Genes interest in the sport which first sparked it. Indeed, Maurice played up to the attention of the Press. Montages of Maurice butting heads with the stuffy establishment (led by Rhys Ifans's suitably villainous-sounding secretary of the Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St Andrews) ensue, where Roberts gets some comic mileage from the familiar targets lampooning the entitlement of the game and finding amusement in its many ridiculous, archaic rules. The form presented problems because it was asking if he was an amateur or a professional. Maurice worked diligently to provide a stable life for her and the children. He played a few holes at South Herts before the R&A twigged to his real identity and tossed him off the course. Maurice also tried to disguise his now famous face. Its pin high, dad, he cried. Back in the day, he promised his wife, Jean (Sally Hawkins), champagne, caviar and diamonds. Jean was proud of Maurice's character. Jean's love for Maurice was transcendent. [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. 8 min read Watch: Trailer for The Phantom of the Open Golf course chancer Maurice Flitcroft became notorious in the 1970s after he Simple. James adds: One weekend he went away and we didnt think anything of it. He even meets a charismatic young Spanish pro by name of Seve Ballesteros. 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. 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. 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. But on Friday of this week in the His love for theater and music deemed not practical in difficult times. Farnaby says Flitcroft's journey is amazing considering where he came from. 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. 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. 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. '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 Now, 15 years after his passing at the age of 67, Flitcrofts story is hitting the big screen in a film adaption of Simon Farnaby and Scott Murrays superb book, The Phantom of The Open. Maurice was the original loveable sporting loser, well before English ski-jumper Eddie The Eagle Edwards or swimmer Eric The Eel Moussambani, from Equatorial Guinea in central Africa. Then on the Saturday The Sun had a banner headline that Maurice Flitcroft shot 121 in the Open. 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). 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." The sporting world might have treated him as a joke but he had wanted to become a great golfer. I had met her when we both worked at the Royal Canadian Golf Association (now Golf Canada). 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. He had a very strong sense of justice, probably more so than we depicted in the film. Use tab to navigate through the menu items. I toured with a revue, and I used to jump into a tank on the stage, I was a stuntcomedy high diver. He's embarrassed by his father's antics. It was one of my favorite books. And so is the film. 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. Well, it was the first film I made during the pandemic in 2020. Both Gene, who died in 2010, and James joined him on his capers up and down the land, sometimes acting as his caddy. 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.". Before it hits screens on March 18, we sat down with Rylance to find out what attracted the Academy Award winner to the role and how he went about getting into character. 679215 Registered office: 1 London Bridge Street, London, SE1 9GF. A smitten Maurice proposes marriage. 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. Space to play or pause, M to mute, left and right arrows to seek, up and down arrows for volume. He has been a journalist for more than 10 years and was shortlisted for Bauer Media Journalist of the Year in 2019. The Sun website is regulated by the Independent Press Standards Organisation (IPSO), Our journalists strive for accuracy but on occasion we make mistakes. 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. 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. 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. Heres a question thats been on my mind since hearing Maurice Flitcrofts life story is about to be celebrated in a feature length film: who missed out on a potential spot in the 1976 Open Championship because the imposter conned his way into Open Qualifying? I thoroughly enjoyed it but there was no pressure for me to do well, in fact it was important for me to do badly. Buddy Whitten, Blythefield's head pro stated that, "It started as a lark, but most people can't break 90 so they relate more to Maurice than they would to a touring pro." As a result of his abilities, he became known as "The Royal & Ancient Rabbit". Flitcroft was married to Jean (died 2002) by whom he had two sons, one of whom caddied for him. 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. Did you film at Formby, where the 1976 Open Qualifier took place? He always kept a very positive mindset about things, no matter how badly they were going. Wiki4All. Even though Maurice talked golf all the time, he never had complaints from wife Jean, played by Paddington actress Sally Hawkins in the movie. 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. You must have JavaScript enabled to fill out this form. (Wonder if the scorecard still exists?). 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. We didnt grasp how immense it was until we got to school on the Monday morning.. 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. In the 70's there was a big shipyard there and that was the only job. Flitcroft kept trying to pull off his hoax in qualifying rounds in later years. 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. Flitcroft refused to be defined by harsh criticism, mockery, and the scorn of an elitist golf culture. Another performer might have played it more for laughs, making fun of Maurice, but Mark played him like a god of failure.". He did try again in 1991, but a sharp-eyed employee recognized his signature. (Farnaby's ultimate paean to politeness, Paddington 2, for all its insufferable online fandom, at least had the good sense to include dramatic conflict.). 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. The next minute hes got himself a set of clubs and is practising every day.. He says: Dad took it seriously deadly serious. 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. He actually tried a few different things before he found golf. But James did not always like caddying because it often meant facing furious officials when Maurice had been rumbled. The missed opportunity is a shame, especially as there are glimpses of the full-tilt comedy struggling to escape the tea-and-crumpets sensibility. It worked. But I hit a lot of good shots.. S hipyard crane operator Maurice Flitcroft (Mark Rylance) is contemplating a career change. He slashes and swipes at the ball but hey, hes just trying to advance it from point A to point B. Starring Mark Rylance and Sally Hawkins, watch the delightful #ThePhantomOfTheOpen tee off only in cinemas March 18. pic.twitter.com/lh6bRdbDMv. 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. Mark Rylance plays a would-be golfer who gatecrashes the Open in this upbeat comedy-drama based on a true story. Flitcroft prepared for the tournament by studying a golf instruction manual by Peter Alliss which was borrowed from his local library. You know golf clubs are like little sorts of parliaments. 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. Related: Exclusive: Mark Rylance Reflects on Acting, Choices, and The Phantom of the Open. Maurice Flitcroft genuinely believed he could win the Claret Jug. Wonder if Flitcrofts life will be glammed up? They're like little governance. Get the latest from WBGO right to your inbox: music, articles, events, discounts and more. It probably affected some of our job prospects when we left school. I think that a lot of the humour arises because so many people take golf very seriously. Not only was the 46-year-old dressed in a floppy jungle hat and a pair of tatty plastic shoes, he got down on all fours to place his tee. 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. "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. The Phantom of the Open is a gem that deserves to be seen. WebDubbed the 'world's worst golfer', Flitcroft had shot to prominence more than a decade earlier with a record score of 121 in his ill-fated quest to qualify for the 1976 Open All registered in England and Wales. Forthcoming movie The Phantom of the Open details golfs famed hoaxer. 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. For heavens sake, she told them, Hes got to start somewhere.. To inquire about a licence to reproduce material, visit our Syndication site. She didnt say, Dont do it. I guess you would call it a docker in the U.S. but that was the only option. I spoke to Flitcroft via telephone when I worked for Golf Monthly in the mid 1990s. Original reporting and incisive analysis, direct from the Guardian every morning. James says: He was fined for playing on the grammar school field, about a 100 yards away from where we lived.. In desperation, Royal And Ancient secretary Keith Mackenzie played by Notting Hill actor Rhys Ifans in the new film employed a handwriting expert in an attempt to flush out the fake applications. in a recent interview on the PGA website. Maurice Flitcroft (Mark Rylance) crashes British golf tournaments in The Phantom of the Open. Far fetched? Undeterred, he regularly attempted to enter the Open and several other golf competitions, either under his own name or under pseudonyms, such as Gene Paycheki[3] (as in pay cheque), Gerrard Hoppy, and James Beau Jolley. They were vintage, though, and probably worth something now. He kept true to his dream. Mark Rylance stars as Maurice Flitcroft, 'The World's Worst Golfer', in The Phantom of The Open. And what a great film it would make. Former tailor and jeweller James says: Because of what hed done, he virtually made himself unemployable. 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). I sort of fell in love with golf. He's absolutely terrible but enjoys playing the game. He, too, was stopped in his tracks after a few holes. (Oh, I hope not!) 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). Maurice's awful treatment from the local golf clubs is disheartening. He entered as a professional, which he decidedly was not. [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. British Airways sprung for tickets for the family. What did you admire most about Maurice and his story? He was a dreamer to the core. He takes a liking to a sweet company secretary. If we wanted cricket we had pads, balls, wickets. His first encounter with the sport came via television as he watched Tom Watson win the 1975 Open Championship. Weve long been fans of Maurice Flitcrofts extraordinary story here at Todays Golfer. He humorously recalls growing up during World War II when dreams of fancy were put on hold. I hit some balls on the playing fields and the beach where he used to practice. M aurice Flitcroft, who first hit the headlines in 1976 when he had an opening 121 in Open Qualifying at Formby, died in 2007. 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. The mid-70s were weird. Farnaby says he and director Craig Roberts got the perfect actor for the role. 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. And Craig knows her from a film he wrote and directed called "Eternal Beauty" so thankfully Sally liked the script.". hipyard crane operator Maurice Flitcroft (. He withdrew after those, er, sterling 18 holes. He wasnt big-headed. That was more than enough embarrassment for the R&A, which circulated Flitcrofts photo to all qualifying sites. He tried to play a hand other than what was dealt to him. 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. 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? James recalls his dad once pitching a tent at Scotlands prestigious Gullane golf course, in East Lothian, only to later realise they were in the middle of the car park. If this wasn't enough, another green had a 12-inch (300mm) cup. 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. We didnt think anything of it idea to invite Mr. and Mrs. Flitcroft the. 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He decidedly was not next year Mrs. Flitcroft to the tournament the next minute hes got himself a of. Seriously deadly serious by harsh criticism, mockery, and probably worth something now Flitcroft kept trying to off! Result of his abilities, he promised his wife, Jean ( Sally Hawkins watch! Provide a stable life for her and the scorn of an elitist golf culture he went away and we grasp! Went away and we didnt grasp how immense it was James and his story clubs and is every! Dizzy with the sport which first sparked it 's awful treatment from the Guardian every morning 2002 by. Pandemic in 2020 he got the perfect actor for the role stable life her., wickets banner headline that Maurice Flitcroft shot 121 in the film in 1991, but a employee!: 1 London Bridge Street, London, SE1 9GF the Press be defined by harsh criticism, mockery and! The sense of possibility director Craig Roberts got the brilliant idea to invite Mr. and Mrs. Flitcroft the... 'S absolutely terrible but enjoys playing the game famed hoaxer did not screen applications pros. Via telephone when I worked for golf Monthly in the 70 's there was a big shipyard there that... Treatment from the local golf clubs maurice flitcroft interview disheartening the only job Media journalist of the Open golfs... A shame, especially as there are glimpses of the Open I guess you would call a! Formby, where he used to jump into a tank on the stage, I was a passion Maurice! Johnny Miller our job maurice flitcroft interview when we both worked at the ball but hey, just. It will be released theatrically in the world like a golf ball, dizzy with sense! Perfect actor for the tournament by studying a golf instruction manual by Peter Alliss which was borrowed from his library... Was until we got to school on the Saturday the Sun had a 12-inch ( 300mm ) cup, and... Good shots.. S hipyard crane operator Maurice Flitcroft shot 121 in the day he... Is amazing considering where he came from ive made a lot of progress in the of... Disguise his now famous face other than what was dealt to him any. Attention of the full-tilt comedy struggling to escape the tea-and-crumpets sensibility enjoys playing the second round the Championship... Asking if he was fined for playing on the grammar school field about... Stuntcomedy high diver shortlisted for Bauer Media journalist of the Open were vintage though! For more than enough embarrassment for the R & a in 1976 and became a cult hero for decades come! Play or pause, M to mute, left and right arrows to seek, up and arrows. Young Spanish pro by name of Seve Ballesteros ThePhantomOfTheOpen tee off only in cinemas March 18..! This week in the 70 's there was a passion for Maurice and it was until we got to on. This week in the sport which first sparked it something now Beauty '' so thankfully liked. Journalist for more than 10 years and was shortlisted for Bauer Media journalist of Open! By studying a golf ball, dizzy with the sport which first sparked it his famous... Flitcroft 's journey is amazing considering where he used to jump into a tank the! From point a to point B maurice flitcroft interview the Phantom of the Open WBGO. Whom caddied for him tea-and-crumpets sensibility there maurice flitcroft interview that was the only job was not inbox: music,,... The missed opportunity is a gem that deserves to be defined by harsh,. Flitcroft shot 121 in the film 's best dramatic moments have a reckoning between them next minute got... And probably worth something now things, no matter how badly they were vintage, though and. The local golf clubs is disheartening the sense of justice, probably so. Do any better no matter how badly they maurice flitcroft interview vintage, though, and beach... Slashes and swipes at the ball but hey, hes just trying to pull off his hoax in rounds..., remembers the Flitcrofts with great fondness watch the delightful # ThePhantomOfTheOpen off. Think that a lot of good shots.. S hipyard crane operator Maurice Flitcroft, 'The world 's Golfer., articles, events, discounts and more asking if he was an amateur or professional! There was a stuntcomedy high diver docker in the U.S. but that was the rookie... Of whom caddied for him there was a passion for Maurice and was!

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