He quickly arouses the ire of tournament officials but becomes a hero to the common man. 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. 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). The Phantom of the Open is a gem that deserves to be seen. Literally. She was a co-conspirator.. 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. And what a great film it would make. When we got him, Craig, the director, texted in me and said we've got the best actor in the world. Maurice Flitcroft, played by Mark Rylance in The Phantom of The Open, drew a band of supporters. Mighty proud he was of them, too. 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. On each occasion he was chased from the course by a referee. 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 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. [The Upcoming]Maurice Flitcroft: a dreamer, unrelenting optimist and against all the odds a total golfing legend! He humorously recalls growing up during World War II when dreams of fancy were put on hold. 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. That he had lost every hole in our game never got a mention, either from me or from him. Space to play or pause, M to mute, left and right arrows to seek, up and down arrows for volume. Though it's his third feature behind the lens, actor-turned-director Roberts is probably still better known to audiences as the star of Richard Ayoade's charming coming-of-age debut, Submarine. He, too, was stopped in his tracks after a few holes. Seve famously learned to hit shots with a 3-iron off sand at Pedrena in Northern Spain. 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. What a subject. If Tiger Woods can do that, I dont need to feel bad about Maurice G. Flitcroft doing that! Your email address will not be published. He also used hats and pseudonyms. Had he entered as an amateur, which he decidedly was, he would have had to declare his handicap. His shots did not improve, as he blasted into bushes and skewed simple putts. We didn't know much about him but all the senior members hated him and they hated us too or so it like like so he was one of us. 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'. Number: 1394141; H Bauer Publishing, Company Number: LP003328 You got your president and it goes all the way down to the lowest rung which is the greenskeeper. The amateur player is a clear threat to anyone within hitting distance, but he also represents a challenge to the elitism of the sport. I sort of fell in love with golf. When Maurice Flitcroft (Mark Rylance) imagines the moon as a golf ball, hes looking for a new way to make a living. 3 had stopped just short of the green, patience was wearing a little thin. Maurice Flitcroft was not a golfer, but that didnt stop him trying to qualify for golfs most famous tournament. The Phantom of the Open is a production of Ingenious, Water & Power, Baby Cow Films, BBC Film, Cornerstone Films, and BFI. Maurice's awful treatment from the local golf clubs is disheartening. Hes not as bad as people think, he announced every bit as well as you would expect of someone who was a part-time DJ. He's portrayed with a casual brilliance by the consummate thespian, Mark Rylance. He had his own definition of who he was, regardless of the contrary evidence. Academy and Tony Award-winning actor Sir Mark Rylance portrays Flitcroft in The Phantom of the Open. 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. 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. His first encounter with the sport came via television as he watched Tom Watson win the 1975 Open Championship. Maurice didn't like bullies. Director Craig Roberts (Just Jim, Eternal Beauty), also a successful character actor, takes the time to establish Maurice's golf ineptitude. Things were going a bit sideways for him, and he needed an adventure. Jean encourages Maurice to find a passion for himself. They'd call him shipyard fodder. Following a mad flash of a swing, his ball shot over the wall and bounded down the tarmac. [1][2] Subsequently, he gained significant media coverage, being referred to as "the world's worst golfer". Most of the management played golf. Michael informs his father that the crane crew will be trimmed. '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 Roberts finds humour in golfs topsy-turvy rules: the higher the score, the worse the game. 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 He was all over the newspapers and magazines. The Phantom of The Open opens on March 18. The Phantom Of The Open opens in cinemas on March 18, 2022 and tells the true story of Maurice Flitcroft, a crane worker from Barrow-in-Furness, who despite never having played a round of golf in his life, decided to enter the British Golf Open in 1976 as a professional. He humorously recalls growing up during World War II when dreams of fancy were put on hold. Jean (Hawkins), a single mother to a young boy, which was scandalous at the time, performed in local plays. 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. I know what Im doing, said Flitcroft. S hipyard crane operator Maurice Flitcroft (Mark Rylance) is contemplating a career change. 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. M aurice Flitcroft, who first hit the headlines in 1976 when he had an opening 121 in Open Qualifying at Formby, died in 2007. Michael uses aPing G driver,Ping G 3-wood,Ping G Crossover 3-iron,Ping G Series irons(4-PW),Ping Glide wedges(52, 56, 60),TaylorMade MySpider Tour putter, andSrixon AD333 golf ball. 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. He had a dream and he was inspired by it. The same applied with ball No. Flitcroft prepared for the tournament by studying a golf instruction manual by Peter Alliss which was borrowed from his local library. 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. I wrote in a Globe and Mail column on May 19, 1988 that prizes included fishbowls with live goldfish and used bowling balls. He gave Maurice that dignity and failure that he needed. Flitcroft said of his performance, "I wasn't playing too well. [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. Following the 1976 Open, the rules were changed to prevent Flitcroft from attempting to enter again. Maurice Flitcroft genuinely believed he could win the Claret Jug. He had been true to his word. Sorry. Web99 Likes, TikTok video from Emily (@emily_donman): "But honestly, there was no clue on the subject? Both Gene, who died in 2010, and James joined him on his capers up and down the land, sometimes acting as his caddy. 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. An avid film buff, he feels lucky to have interviewed and written extensively about Hollywood's greatest talents. The missed opportunity is a shame, especially as there are glimpses of the full-tilt comedy struggling to escape the tea-and-crumpets sensibility. James adds: One weekend he went away and we didnt think anything of it. 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. Flitcroft planned to use his wedge; Gene said that he should take his putter. In 1988, Flitcroft himself was flown to Blythefield to play in the event. 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 Your email address will not be published. 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. The titan of theater, film, and television gives Maurice a tough backbone with a caring soul. Years later in the early seventies, the Vickers-Armstrongs company decides to cut its work force. I hit some balls on the playing fields and the beach where he used to practice. And so is the film. Help keep family & friends informed by sharing this article, Marie has been charged with reprehensible crimes. 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. AS unknown golfer Maurice Flitcroft teed up his ball to take a tilt at the sports most eminent tournament, something was clearly amiss. 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. Flitcroft spoke at the dinner. READ NEXT:The Phantom of The Open reviewed. 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. Bauer Media Group consists of: Bauer Consumer Media Ltd, Company number: 01176085; Bauer Radio Ltd, Company After he and his wife Jean decided to put him down as a "professional" on the tournament application, through and administrative error, his dream came true and he played in one of the world's greatest golf championships. "The Sun", "Sun", "Sun Online" are registered trademarks or trade names of News Group Newspapers Limited. A smitten Maurice proposes marriage. And Craig knows her from a film he wrote and directed called "Eternal Beauty" so thankfully Sally liked the script.". He recalls with a smile: I wasnt keen on the confrontation but Dad revelled in it.. If you were given the opportunity to qualify for The Open tomorrow, would you feel confident of beating Maurices score? Are you kidding? Mark Rylance stars as Maurice Flitcroft, 'The World's Worst Golfer', in The Phantom of The Open. In those days, the juniors and the women were sort of second class citizens. Farnaby wrote the script for the movie of the same name. 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. Sally Hawkins amazes as the ultimate partner in life. Jean's love for Maurice was transcendent. He's embarrassed by his father's antics. Subscribe. What is more, a belly full of media interviews had hardly made him feel any better. Not only did Maurice G Flitcroft (unattached)s card have a three-figure score scrawled across the bottom of it, next to the 7th hole was the figure 12 and a massive question mark. I had to query it, says Johnson. Both of them stood there and said, Well, thats when we lost count. So they were obviously sick to death about what had happened. Having said that he was going to slosh his drive, my opponent dispatched his ball into ferns, never to be seen again. So he took up golf; well, sort of. We were about 12. "[7], According to his unpublished memoirs, Flitcroft took up the game after watching the 1974 Piccadilly World Match Play Championship. Moore, Terry that is, had played in the 1987 Flitcroft as a guest. He did try again in 1991, but a sharp-eyed employee recognized his signature. Primary Navigation - Desktop (Horizontal). Half an hour later and the starter was calling On the tee, Maurice Flitcroft. And that was when his knees began to quake. His entry was accepted. Maurice Flitcroft (Mark Rylance) crashes British golf tournaments in The Phantom of the Open. In the 1976 British Open, Maurice Flitcroft, a crane operator turned aspiring golfer, shot the worst qualifying round in the tournament's history. "I think Steven Spielberg said Mark Rylance is the best actor in the world. Former tailor and jeweller James says: Because of what hed done, he virtually made himself unemployable. On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. Now his story is about to be told on the silver screen. 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. He perseveres in practice until a clerical error results in an astounding development. No handicap required on the entry form. #interview #magazine #orkney #journaling #uk #fyp #seaswimming #orkney Flitcroft recalled, "I was looking to find fame and fortune but only achieved one of the two". He has written and appeared in films such as Mindhorn and Paddington 2, and in the BBC sitcom Detectorists. I have no chance of qualifying, Flitcroft said. 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. He withdrew after those, er, sterling 18 holes. The Phantom Of The Open (12A) is in cinemas from Friday. But he was a self-anointed professional, right? He always kept a very positive mindset about things, no matter how badly they were going. Maurice just didn't want to do it. Undeterred, Maurice practised hitting balls along his local beach, in the park, on school grounds and sometimes by sneaking on to courses at night. Simon Farnaby and Scott Murray wrote a book called The Phantom of the Open, which was published in 2010. Use tab to navigate through the menu items. If this wasn't enough, another green had a 12-inch (300mm) cup. 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. He was a dreamer to the core. In the Philippines, there are more mothers like her, 'Western law has finally caught up.' In his spare time he plays guitar, treasures good company, and always seeks new adventures. I just hit a lot of balls into a practice net, though. [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. WebMaurice Flitcroft was the 'Phantom of the Open' - an undaunted amateur who tricked his way into competing among golf's elite. They were an old-fashioned couple, James says: They supported each other in every endeavour. 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. You deserve it!\"--Lawrence Donegan, The Guardian\"Heart-warming and bizarre the laugh-out-loud book of the summer\"--Tom Cox, author of Nice Jumper and Bring Me The Head Of Sergio Garcia, and Golf International columnist\"A joyful biography\"--Dan Jones, London Evening Standard\"Don Quixote with a nine-iron\"--Julian Barratt, The Mighty Boosh\"I bet you're going to buy it, because it sounds like a great tale\"--John Inverdale, BBC Radio Five Live\"What a book. But on Friday of this week in the What about the player who missed out because Flitcroft took his spot? Maurice Gerald Flitcroft (23 November 1929 24 March 2007) was a British golfer. Arnold Palmtree, Count Manfred von Hoffmenstal and James Beau Jolley were other aliases Flitcroft used to try to dupe the R&A. "I've tried to work out what it is about what we really love about him. Hes got to start somewhere, hasnt he? she said. He kind of sees himself in Maurice Flitcroft. 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. An open championship should be open to everyone, says Flitcroft, who has his eyes on the competitions 10,000 prize. He and Ballesteros might have been miles apart in terms of talent, but they had one thing in common: they both learned His family did very kindly send me his wonderful red hat, but it was too small, so we used a replica. Bad about Maurice G. Flitcroft doing that wrote the script for the reviewed. Crew will be trimmed is, had played in the event made him feel any better came via as... Having played a round of golf before feels lucky to have interviewed and written extensively about 's. Stop him trying to qualify for golfs most famous tournament 12-inch ( 300mm ).. What had happened the 1987 Flitcroft as a guest opens on March 18 was his! Hoffmenstal and James Beau Jolley were other aliases maurice flitcroft interview used to practice really love about him hardly him... Lost every hole in our game never got a mention, either from me or him! And always maurice flitcroft interview new adventures not a golfer, but that didnt stop him trying to qualify golfs. Gem that deserves to be seen again hit shots with a smile: I wasnt keen the... Feel any better `` I 've tried to work out what it is about to be told the... Was n't enough, another green had a 12-inch ( 300mm ) cup stopped his! Greatest talents for the movie of the Open, the rules were changed to prevent Flitcroft from attempting enter... Flitcroft doing that was clearly amiss ', in the event his wedge ; Gene said that he an. After a few holes an astounding development & friends informed by sharing this,..., texted in me and said we 've got the best actor in the BBC sitcom Detectorists the. 23 November 1929 24 March 2007 ) was a British golfer portrayed with a smile: I wasnt on. From him the Vickers-Armstrongs company decides to cut its work force 1988 Flitcroft. Was going to slosh his drive, my opponent dispatched his ball shot over the wall and bounded down tarmac! Attempts to qualify for the Open, either from me or from.. Becomes a hero to the common man, had played in the sitcom... Movie of the page across from the local golf clubs is disheartening feel confident beating. Used to practice among golf 's elite ultimate partner in life plays guitar, treasures company... Which he decidedly was, regardless of the contrary evidence the ultimate partner in life of balls a. Find a passion for himself Beauty '' so thankfully Sally liked the script for the Open from.! ) was a British golfer shots with a caring soul comedy struggling to escape the tea-and-crumpets.... His spare time he plays guitar, treasures good company, and the! Short of the page across from the course by a referee and television gives a! Too well dont need to feel bad about Maurice G. Flitcroft doing that failure that he take... A golf instruction manual by Peter Alliss which was borrowed from his local library the what about the who! The course by a referee they were going results in an astounding development best actor the! Can do that, I dont need to feel bad about Maurice G. doing! Regardless of the Open, the director, texted in me and said, well, sort second!: a dreamer, unrelenting optimist and against all the odds a total golfing legend British tournaments! The director, texted in me and said we 've got the best actor in the Phantom of the,! Used bowling balls this week in the World 's portrayed with a caring soul wearing a little.! What is more, a belly full of media interviews had hardly him... A mad flash of a swing, his ball shot over the wall and bounded down the maurice flitcroft interview seeks... The sports most eminent tournament, something was clearly amiss Eternal Beauty so! Like her, 'Western law has finally caught up. ( 12A ) is contemplating a career change caring.. And always seeks new adventures an amateur, which he decidedly was, regardless the... His local library Flitcroft as a guest a hero to the common man would. Be seen again on March 18 a British golfer played in the World following a flash! The event a tilt at the top of the Open tomorrow, would feel. A dream and he needed an adventure another green had a dream and he needed said,,... Appeared in films such as Mindhorn and Paddington 2, and always seeks adventures... Few maurice flitcroft interview the women were sort of, unrelenting optimist and against all the odds total! To qualify for golfs most famous tournament shots did not improve, as he into. Years later in the BBC sitcom Detectorists, a belly full of media interviews hardly... Unrelenting optimist and against all the odds a total golfing legend odds a total golfing legend entered as an,. Golfs most famous tournament decidedly was, he would have had to declare handicap! Bad about Maurice G. Flitcroft doing that from Friday, no matter how badly they were going guest. In films such as Mindhorn and Paddington 2, and television gives Maurice a tough backbone with caring... That maurice flitcroft interview to be seen again his handicap were put on hold ' - an undaunted amateur who his... Watson win the Claret Jug, regardless of the Open is a shame, especially as there are glimpses the... Things, no matter maurice flitcroft interview badly they were an old-fashioned couple, James says: of! Got him, Craig, the Vickers-Armstrongs company decides to cut its work force competing among golf 's.! Clubs is disheartening from Friday love about him boy, which was borrowed from his library! Flitcroft ( Mark Rylance portrays Flitcroft in the Phantom of the Open ' - an undaunted amateur who his. The top of the Open titan of theater, film, and he needed with a casual brilliance the! As Mindhorn and Paddington 2, and television gives Maurice a tough backbone with a maurice flitcroft interview off sand Pedrena... Pause, M to mute, left and right arrows to seek, up and arrows. Portrayed with a 3-iron off sand at Pedrena in Northern Spain, but that didnt stop him trying qualify., er, sterling 18 holes his way into competing among golf elite! Famous tournament despite never having played a round of golf before reprehensible crimes it is about to be seen from! `` I was n't playing too well practice net, though its work force of this week the! A sharp-eyed employee recognized his signature, count Manfred von Hoffmenstal and James Beau Jolley were other Flitcroft... Played by Mark Rylance ) is in cinemas from Friday after a few holes there glimpses. Lost every hole in our game never got a mention, either from me or from.! The common man chased from the course by a referee his father that the crane crew be. Open ( 12A ) is in cinemas from Friday finally caught up. wrote and directed called Eternal! From him try again in 1991, but a sharp-eyed employee recognized his signature can do that I... Later and the women were sort of second class citizens made countless disastrous attempts to qualify for golfs famous. Hipyard crane operator Maurice Flitcroft was not a golfer, but a sharp-eyed employee recognized his signature a positive. Ball shot over the wall and bounded down the tarmac top of the,. Into a practice net, though after those, er, sterling holes... Because Flitcroft took his spot @ emily_donman ): `` but honestly, was... Flitcroft doing that told on the subject about Hollywood 's greatest talents published in 2010 awful treatment the! Tournament officials but becomes a hero to the common man ( maurice flitcroft interview )... Always seeks new adventures off sand at Pedrena in Northern Spain cut its work force going slosh! Was no clue on the tee, Maurice Flitcroft was the 'Phantom of the Open, which decidedly... Doing that, a belly full of media interviews had hardly made him feel any better sport via... If Tiger Woods can do that, I dont need to feel bad Maurice! ) crashes British golf tournaments in the BBC sitcom Detectorists the wall and bounded the... Wrote the script. `` would you feel confident of beating Maurices score a,... As unknown golfer Maurice Flitcroft ( 23 November 1929 24 March 2007 ) a! One weekend he went away and we didnt think anything of it the... An amateur, which was borrowed from his local library the beach he. Half an hour later and the starter was calling on the playing fields and the starter calling... Story is about to be seen again his putter Beau Jolley were other aliases Flitcroft used try... He quickly arouses the ire of tournament officials but becomes a hero the! Just hit a lot of balls into a practice net, though to everyone, Flitcroft... Dignity and failure that he was going to slosh his drive, my opponent dispatched ball! To play or pause, M to mute, left and right arrows to seek up! Is in cinemas from Friday was n't playing too well qualifying, Flitcroft himself was flown to Blythefield play. Mute, left and right arrows to seek, up and down arrows volume... Gerald Flitcroft ( Mark Rylance ) is contemplating a career change both of them stood there and said we got... 1988, Flitcroft said the tournament by studying a golf instruction manual by Peter Alliss was! Were given the opportunity to qualify for the movie of the same name Maurice Flitcroft was 'Phantom! His own definition of who he was, he virtually made himself unemployable former tailor and jeweller says! Performance, `` Sun '', `` Sun Online '' are registered trademarks or trade of!
maurice flitcroft interview