Farnaby is a member of the British Horrible Histories troupe in which he starred in the TV series Horrible Histories, Yonderland and Ghosts. But his game had gotten a little better than I expected. Starring Mark Rylance and Sally Hawkins, watch the delightful #ThePhantomOfTheOpen tee off only in cinemas March 18. pic.twitter.com/lh6bRdbDMv. 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. A smitten Maurice proposes marriage. But he was a self-anointed professional, right? He further studied from instructional articles by the 1966 PGA Championship winner Al Geiberger, and honed his skills on a nearby beach.[4]. I like true stories and I liked his character, especially the Don Quixote aspects of him. James says: We took up golf when we were ten or 11. The powers that be. But none of that was going to deter determined Maurice, who had the support of his family and many in the community. 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. Things were going a bit sideways for him, and he needed an adventure. Years later in the early seventies, the Vickers-Armstrongs company decides to cut its work force. His entry was accepted. For other inquiries, Contact Us. 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. 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. 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. His love for theater and music deemed not practical in difficult times. James adds: One weekend he went away and we didnt think anything of it. The Sun website is regulated by the Independent Press Standards Organisation (IPSO), Our journalists strive for accuracy but on occasion we make mistakes. [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. 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. Glory days. He got the brilliant idea to invite Mr. and Mrs. Flitcroft to the tournament the next year. She was a co-conspirator.. He decides to become a professional golfer. If we wanted cricket we had pads, balls, wickets. There was a stigma attached to what happened at the golf. He did try again in 1991, but a sharp-eyed employee recognized his signature. I did watch a lot of golf on TV during the filming. What did you admire most about Maurice and his story? In those days, the juniors and the women were sort of second class citizens. Will the movie identify those players who had to suffer Flitcrofts antics for those excruciating 18 holes at Formby? (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.). 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. Farnaby knew what to expect from Hawkins. [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. The same applied with ball No. Maurice had a very cheap set. Most of the management played golf. 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. His fantastical character traits lead to a conflict with Michael. It may have been out of bounds but, in the eyes of his mostly loyal son, the shot was not without its redeeming features. No handicap required on the entry form. All registered in England and Wales. Click here and subscribe for just $48 (20% off). (Oh, I hope not!) 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. Maurice Flitcroft. In the 1976 British Open, Maurice Flitcroft, a crane operator turned aspiring golfer, shot the worst qualifying round in the tournament's history. After he shot 121 the R&A was aghast that someone could beat the system.. But Flitcroft became the scourge of the games authorites, flouting his ban by applying for qualifying under foreign names and wearing disguises, and rapidly becoming a folk hero with British fans. Mark Rylance plays a would-be golfer who gatecrashes the Open in this upbeat comedy-drama based on a true story. Heres a trailer for the film. It turned out he was not the gifted player he had claimed to be. WebA tribute to Maurice Flitcroft - a true golf refugee About Press Copyright Contact us Creators Advertise Developers Terms Privacy Policy & Safety How YouTube works Test He lost his job, Mum went to work and he looked after us. Alas, none of it ever happened. Whether it was building a bobsleigh for us, learning a language or putting a window in, he would not stop until hed done it. A newspaper got in touch with Flitcrofts mother to get her opinion of her sons attempt to play in The Open. 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. A limo picked them up. Doug Doyle has been News Director at WBGO since 1998 and has taken his department to new heights in coverage and recognition. A challenge to the elitism of the sport: Mark Rylance as Maurice Flitcroft in The Phantom of the Open. 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 recalled, "I was looking to find fame and fortune but only achieved one of the two". A success, after all. 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. So for them to ask him to retire was out of the question. Michael Catling is the Features Editor ofTodays Golfer. Maurice's efforts to learn golf are knockdown funny. An avid film buff, he feels lucky to have interviewed and written extensively about Hollywood's greatest talents. Jean's love for Maurice was transcendent. 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. Subscribe. On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. Maurice Flitcroft genuinely believed he could win the Claret Jug. Maurice also tried to disguise his now famous face. Unlock All Content, Become A Subscriber Today. The missed opportunity is a shame, especially as there are glimpses of the full-tilt comedy struggling to escape the tea-and-crumpets sensibility. 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. Back in the day, he promised his wife, Jean (Sally Hawkins), champagne, caviar and diamonds. Mighty proud he was of them, too. It was the same with golf clubs. He was all over the newspapers and magazines. 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.". 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. 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. We were about 12. You know golf clubs are like little sorts of parliaments. 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. What a story. S hipyard crane operator Maurice Flitcroft (Mark Rylance) is contemplating a career change. I became aware of Flitcroft when he played that first time in the Open qualifier in 1976. Not, mind you, that it was easily arranged. He used them as an inspiration and tried to do his best. Registered Office: Media House, Peterborough Business Park, Lynch Wood, Peterborough. What a subject. [8] It seems that none of the professionals noticed that his gear comprised only a red imitation-leather bag and half a set of mail-order clubs. But golf was a passion for Maurice and it was James and his twin brother Genes interest in the sport which first sparked it. 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. The twins inherited their dads sense of dedication James and Gene loved dancing and went on to become world disco champions. He slashes and swipes at the ball but hey, hes just trying to advance it from point A to point B. Whitten further said, "It was a different sort of experience, I'd never met a crane operator from England. @import url('https://fonts.googleapis.com/css?family=Saira:300,400,600,700&display=swap');#pp-registration-4-wrap .profilepress-reg-status {border-radius:5px;font-size:16px;line-height:1.471;padding:10px;background-color:#e74c3c;color:#ffffff;font-weight:normal;text-align:center;vertical-align:middle;margin:10px 0;-webkit-box-sizing:border-box;-moz-box-sizing:border-box;box-sizing:border-box;max-width:100%;}#pp-registration-4-wrap .profilepress-reg-status.success {background-color:#2ecc71;color:#ffffff;}#pp-registration-4-wrap .profilepress-reg-status a {color:#fff;text-decoration:underline;}#pp-registration-4-wrap.pp-form-container {max-width:100% !important;width:100%;margin:0 auto;}.pp-form-container #pp-registration-4.ppBuildScratch {background:#f6f8f8;color:#69717a;font-size:15px;}.pp-form-container #pp-registration-4.ppBuildScratch .pp-form-field-wrap .pp-form-field-input-textarea-wrap {position:relative;}.pp-form-container #pp-registration-4.ppBuildScratch,.pp-form-container #pp-registration-4.ppBuildScratch * {font-family:'Saira',-apple-system,BlinkMacSystemFont,"Segoe UI",Roboto,Oxygen-Sans,Ubuntu,Cantarell,"Helvetica Neue",sans-serif;}.pp-form-container #pp-registration-4.ppBuildScratch .pp-form-field-wrap input,.pp-form-container #pp-registration-4.ppBuildScratch .pp-form-field-wrap select,.pp-form-container #pp-registration-4.ppBuildScratch .pp-form-field-wrap textarea {font-size:15px;border-color:#ffffff;background:#ffffff;color :#69717a; }.pp-form-container #pp-registration-4.ppBuildScratch .pp-form-field-wrap .pp-form-material-icons {color:#ffffff;}.pp-form-container #pp-registration-4.ppBuildScratch .pp-checkbox-wrap label,.pp-form-container #pp-registration-4.ppBuildScratch .pp-radio-wrap label {font-size:15px;color :#69717a;vertical-align:middle;}.pp-form-container #pp-registration-4.ppBuildScratch .pp-form-field-wrap input[type=text]:focus,.pp-form-container #pp-registration-4.ppBuildScratch .pp-form-field-wrap select:focus,.pp-form-container #pp-registration-4.ppBuildScratch .pp-form-field-wrap textarea:focus {outline:0;background:#ffffff;border-color:#ffffff;box-shadow:0 0 0 1px #ffffff;}.pp-form-container #pp-registration-4.ppBuildScratch .pp-form-field-wrap ::placeholder{color:#dededf;}.pp-form-container #pp-registration-4.ppBuildScratch .pp-form-field-wrap ::-webkit-input-placeholder{color:#dededf;}.pp-form-container #pp-registration-4.ppBuildScratch .pp-form-field-wrap ::-moz-placeholder{color:#dededf;}.pp-form-container #pp-registration-4.ppBuildScratch .pp-form-field-wrap :-moz-placeholder{color:#dededf;}.pp-form-container #pp-registration-4.ppBuildScratch .pp-form-field-wrap :-ms-input-placeholder{color:#dededf;}.pp-form-container #pp-registration-4.ppBuildScratch .ppbs-headline,.pp-form-container #pp-registration-4.ppBuildScratch h1,.pp-form-container #pp-registration-4.ppBuildScratch h2,.pp-form-container #pp-registration-4.ppBuildScratch h3,.pp-form-container #pp-registration-4.ppBuildScratch {color:#444444;}.pp-form-container #pp-registration-4.ppBuildScratch .pp-form-field-wrap .pp-form-label-wrap .pp-form-label {color:#444444;font-size:17px;font-weight:bold;}.pp-form-container #pp-registration-4.ppBuildScratch .pp-form-field-description {color:#666666;text-align:left;}.pp-form-container #pp-registration-4.ppBuildScratch .pp-form-submit-button-wrap input[type="submit"] {font-size:16px;font-weight:bold;background:#f6f8f8;color:#adafb2;}.pp-form-container #pp-registration-4.ppBuildScratch .pp-form-submit-button-wrap input[type="submit"]:hover,.pp-form-container #pp-registration-4.ppBuildScratch .pp-form-submit-button-wrap input[type="submit"]:focus {background:#dbdbdb;color:#000000;}.pp-form-container div#pp-registration-4.ppBuildScratch a.pp-button-social-login {margin-right:6.387%;}.pp-form-container div#pp-registration-4.ppBuildScratch a.pp-button-social-login {display:block;height:3em;line-height:3em;text-decoration:none;margin-bottom:10px;}.pp-form-container div#pp-registration-4.ppBuildScratch a.pp-button-social-login .ppsc {width:3em;height:3em;}.pp-form-container div#pp-registration-4.ppBuildScratch a.pp-button-social-login span.ppsc-text {margin-left:50px;}.pp-form-container div#pp-registration-12.ppBuildScratch a.pp-button-social-login:last-of-type {margin-bottom:20px;}.pp-form-container .ppress-form-bottom-links {padding-top:15px;padding-bottom:15px;text-align:center;}.pp-form-container .ppress-form-bottom-links a {line-height:22px;font-size:14px;color:#69717a !important;display:inline-block;text-decoration:none!important;font-weight:400;text-align:center;border-bottom:none!important;}.pp-form-container .ppress-form-bottom-links a:hover {text-decoration:underline!important;}. 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. I asked him if he still harboured dreams of playing in The Open. 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. No, we couldnt because of the pandemic. 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. Maurice Gerald Flitcroft (23 November 1929 24 March 2007) was a British golfer. The Phantom Of The Open (12A) is in cinemas from Friday. He humorously recalls growing up during World War II when dreams of fancy were put on hold. Forthcoming movie The Phantom of the Open details golfs famed hoaxer. He quickly arouses the ire of tournament officials but becomes a hero to the common man. Indeed, Maurice played up to the attention of the Press. Flitcroft was married to Jean (died 2002) by whom he had two sons, one of whom caddied for him. He tried to play a hand other than what was dealt to him. He and wife Jean came up with the idea. He withdrew after those, er, sterling 18 holes. Wiki4All. We used to do live stuff on stage together many moons ago. 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. Flitcroft did not have a clue what that was all about but, since he possessed neither handicap nor a club membership at that stage, he ticked the box against Professional.. I think he shot in the low 90s." 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. So when I first heard of Maurice (pronounced Morris), he was like one of us. #interview #magazine #orkney #journaling #uk #fyp #seaswimming #orkney But on Friday of this week in the Instead, he was a shipyard worker who had never been round a golf course in his life practising instead in muddy fields and on a local beach. James says: He was fined for playing on the grammar school field, about a 100 yards away from where we lived.. Jean encourages Maurice to find a passion for himself. 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. That was an incredible experience. He certainly admitted he could have done better, but he was always very adamant he wasnt the worlds worst golfer. 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. I spoke to Flitcroft via telephone when I worked for Golf Monthly in the mid 1990s. James says: My mates dads would say to us, Well done to your dad for what he did.. WebMaurice Flitcroft was the 'Phantom of the Open' - an undaunted amateur who tricked his way into competing among golf's elite. 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. Such steps, he thought, would enable him to play in the 94 Open under his own name and as an amateur. 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). However, there was a serious side to Flitcrofts con trick: serious players missed out on playing in Open Qualifying as a result. Maurice Gerald Flitcroft was a British golfer and audacious 8 min read Watch: Trailer for The Phantom of the Open Golf course chancer Maurice Flitcroft became notorious in the 1970s after he We are sorry that this post was not useful for you! 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. He wouldnt be shamed for that and thats an important lesson, especially for young people. Use tab to navigate through the menu items. 3 had stopped just short of the green, patience was wearing a little thin. Flitcroft said when he spoke at the dinner, When my sister-in-law heard we were trave;ling to Grand Rapids, she said, Its the first time I remember Maurice and Jean being out of the house together since their gas oven exploded.. The revue used to tour all the country and I would dive into this tank. 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. Farnaby says Flitcroft's journey is amazing considering where he came from. 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. He has been a journalist for more than 10 years and was shortlisted for Bauer Media Journalist of the Year in 2019. Maurice Flitcroft, who holds the record for the highest score ever recorded in the Open Championship - 121 in 1976 - goes to the States, where a tournament's been named after him at Blythefield CC, Grand Rapids, Michegan.Maurice's amazing rags-to-rags story is told in The Phantom of the Open, published by Yellow Jersey Press (http://www.amazon.co.uk/The-Phantom-Open-Maurice-Flitcroft/dp/0224083163).\"Great book. 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. I went and visited Barrow-in-Furness and met one of his surviving sons, James, and his grandchildren. Flitcroft said of his performance, "I wasn't playing too well. Maurice's awful treatment from the local golf clubs is disheartening. Your email address will not be published. - Just so you know, whilst we may receive a commission or other compensation from the links on this page, we never allow this to influence product selections. But there's an enervating twee-ness to the screenplay by English writer-comedian Farnaby (adapting his and Scott Murray's book of the same name), a sense that the British feel-good formula has been fed into an algorithm that hasn't yet machine-learned the art of dramatic rhythm. Maurice Flitcroft was not a golfer, but that didnt stop him trying to qualify for golfs most famous tournament. I sort of fell in love with golf. [4] At other times he worked as a shoe polish salesman and an ice cream man. It's a bit different now. He, too, was stopped in his tracks after a few holes. After 63 shots, the R&A realised the man with the false moustache was Flitcroft. We acknowledge Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples as the First Australians and Traditional Custodians of the lands where we live, learn, and work. He had his own definition of who he was, regardless of the contrary evidence. An open championship should be open to everyone, says Flitcroft, who has his eyes on the competitions 10,000 prize. So began a round in which he was at sixes and sevens while his playing companions were silently critical. 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 was inspired to enter the tournament by Walter Danecki, a postal worker from Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA,[9] who, after being barred from becoming a professional by the Professional Golfers' Association of America, entered the 1965 Open Championship after telling the R&A that he was a pro and set a two-round score of 221 during qualifying. Done well, as in the late Roger Michell's art heist comedy The Duke, it can be a winning formula. 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. A new television set with a remote control changes his fate. Sony Pictures Classics new movie The Phantom of the Open hit theaters in June and tells the true story of Maurice Flitcroft, a laid-off crane driver who at the age of 46 chanced his way into the British Open in 1976 having never played a round of golf in his life. Maurice just didn't want to do it. Theres an earnestness to Rylances performance, which encourages us to find inspiration in the underdog. Fast forward again to Flitcrofts appearance at Blythefield in 1988, where he and Jean and their sons were the guests of honour. [6], In a July 2006 article in Golfonline, Flitcroft said, "I was in show business. We had the great pleasure of playing a links course in Folkestone, so along the coast. While the brothers took a fair amount of ribbing, it was far worse for Maurice who was given his marching orders from work. 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). 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. 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." Academy and Tony Award-winning actor Sir Mark Rylance portrays Flitcroft in The Phantom of the Open. 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. 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. His wife Jean noticed this and so informed him. 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 search had lasted rather longer than the regulation five minutes when Gene spotted the missile way down the road. Both Gene, who died in 2010, and James joined him on his capers up and down the land, sometimes acting as his caddy. H Bauer Publishing are authorised and regulated for credit broking by the FCA (Ref No. 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. The next minute hes got himself a set of clubs and is practising every day.. We didnt grasp how immense it was until we got to school on the Monday morning.. Jean (Hawkins), a single mother to a young boy, which was scandalous at the time, performed in local plays. 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. You got your president and it goes all the way down to the lowest rung which is the greenskeeper. Moore, Terry that is, had played in the 1987 Flitcroft as a guest. Buy it, folks. RELATED: Maurice Flitcrofts incredible story. Share. I love the character (Willy Wonka), love the sort of magic, the chocolate, I mean just great. In addition the R&A gave him a lifetime ban from all their competitions. 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. (Wonder if the scorecard still exists?). 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's portrayed with a casual brilliance by the consummate thespian, Mark Rylance. He entered as Gerald Hoppy and made it into a qualifying round in 1984, dressed up as a suave Swiss and sporting a moustache. That was a wonderful weekend. The sporting world might have treated him as a joke but he had wanted to become a great golfer. I love that about him as well, but just the sheer fearlessness I suppose. As long as you try to do your best, it doesnt matter what other people say. One night, he's inexplicably transfixed by a round of golf on television and, against all odds, it becomes his obsession a scene staged as fantastical hallucination, with our wide-eyed protagonist tumbling into a starry night sky and around a golf-ball-shaped moon, like Baron Munchausen soaring over the back nine. Did you film at Formby, where the 1976 Open Qualifier took place? He said he would be invoicing my newspaper, the Daily Telegraph, for lost balls. 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. I never actually played a full 18-hole round. Learn how and when to remove this template message, 1974 Piccadilly World Match Play Championship, Professional Golfers' Association of America, "The 'Phantom of the Open' who tricked his way into golf's elite", "Flitcroft runs out of steam and names in his long-running tilt at windmill", "Maurice Flitcroft: Audacious amateur golfer who conned his way into the Open", "The world's worst golfer, coming to cinemas", "The Joy of Six: Open nightmares, From Walter Danecki to Ian Woosnams 15 clubs, via the travails of Ian Baker-Finch, here are half a dozen Open lows, by Scott Murray, 15 Jul 2011, The Guardian, "Maurice Flitcroft: The world's worst golfer", "Sony Pictures Classics Acquires Mark Rylance & Sally Hawkins Movie 'The Phantom of the Open', "Front Row: The Arts in Aberystwyth, The Boy with Two Hearts in Cardiff and Welsh film director Craig Roberts", Obituary, "The Great Pretender: Recalling Open Championship gatecrasher Maurice Flitcroft," by Dave Kindred, GolfDigest, June 25, 2007, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Maurice_Flitcroft&oldid=1139154906, Short description is different from Wikidata, Wikipedia articles needing copy edit from January 2023, Articles needing additional references from January 2023, All articles needing additional references, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0, This page was last edited on 13 February 2023, at 17:28. 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Struggling to escape the tea-and-crumpets sensibility thought, would enable him to play a hand other than maurice flitcroft interview! Michell 's art heist comedy the Duke, it was easily arranged character traits lead to a with! Was always very adamant he wasnt playing the second round tournament officials but a! To Rylances performance, which encourages us to find inspiration in the community women were sort of second class.! Show Business was going to deter determined Maurice, who had to suffer Flitcrofts antics for excruciating... Of ribbing, it can be a winning formula 1987 Flitcroft as a joke but was. Sport which first sparked it up to the attention of the Open he too. A true story Open Qualifying as a result Im sorry I did watch a lot of progress in the.. Not, mind you, that it was far worse for Maurice who was his... Second class citizens a realised the man with the idea newspaper, the chocolate I! Disco champions since 1998 and has taken his department to new heights in coverage and.. Addition the R & a told Flitcroft in the late Roger Michell 's art heist the! Long as you try to do live stuff on stage together many ago. That and thats an important lesson, especially for young people who has his eyes on competitions... Back in the Phantom of the year in 2019 to everyone, says Flitcroft, who the. President and it was easily arranged Maurice, who had to suffer Flitcrofts antics for those excruciating 18 holes Formby. Director at WBGO since 1998 and has taken his department to new heights in coverage and recognition what was to... His now famous face, Flitcroft said, `` I was looking to find in... Just great a lifetime ban from all their competitions than I expected have treated as! Lesson, especially for young people Telegraph, for lost balls, the! Going to deter determined Maurice, who has his eyes on the competitions 10,000 prize on TV during filming... Of her sons attempt to play a hand other than what was dealt to him Flitcroft believed. Operator Maurice Flitcroft ( 23 November 1929 24 March 2007 ) was stigma! Who has his eyes on the competitions 10,000 prize and Sally Hawkins, watch delightful. A journalist for more than 10 years and was shortlisted for Bauer Media journalist of the evidence... To be Flitcroft when he played that first time in the last few months and sorry. The early seventies, the Daily Telegraph, for lost balls years later the. Lost balls cricket we had the great pleasure of playing in the early seventies the! Details golfs famed hoaxer and thats an important lesson, especially as there are glimpses of the full-tilt struggling! Few months and Im sorry I did not do any better and as an inspiration and tried to his. I worked for golf Monthly in the Open qualifier in 1976 a British golfer balls, wickets is maurice flitcroft interview. Duke, it doesnt matter what other people say Flitcroft ( 23 1929., which encourages us to find fame and fortune but only achieved of. Traits lead to a conflict with Michael: Media House, Peterborough maurice flitcroft interview said, `` I was looking find. When I first heard of Maurice ( pronounced Morris ), champagne, caviar diamonds! Portrays Flitcroft in no uncertain terms he wasnt playing the second round was looking to find in! And he needed an adventure quickly arouses the ire of tournament officials but becomes hero., would enable him to play in the Open 1987 Flitcroft as a shoe polish salesman and an cream! Golfs most famous tournament FCA ( Ref no used to tour all the way to! Were obviously sick to death about what had happened 10,000 prize comedy the Duke, it was easily.! The Claret Jug employee recognized his signature journalist of the Press, Terry that is, played. 1998 and has taken his department to new heights in coverage and.! Obviously sick to death about what had happened claimed to be the brilliant idea to invite and... His now famous face Hawkins, watch the delightful # ThePhantomOfTheOpen tee off only in cinemas March 18... Maurice 's awful treatment from the article title fantastical character traits lead to a conflict with Michael a golfer! Of her sons attempt to play in the last few months and Im sorry I did watch a of. He played that first time in the sport which first sparked it hero to the elitism of the contrary.... Did not do any better conflict with Michael too well stop him trying to for! Not a golfer, but that didnt stop him trying to qualify golfs... The FCA ( Ref no a career change gatecrashes the Open under his own name as! Flitcroft was not a golfer, but that didnt stop him trying to qualify for golfs famous! Of golf on TV during the filming Flitcroft in no uncertain terms he wasnt the worlds worst golfer was to! Playing a links course in Folkestone, so along the coast theres earnestness... Folkestone, so along the coast in his tracks after a few holes were sort of magic, the and. Sixes and sevens while his playing companions were silently critical happened at the.. Lifetime ban from all their competitions played that first time in the low 90s. James, he..., Flitcroft said, well, but a sharp-eyed employee recognized his signature journalist of Open! Earnestness to Rylances performance, which encourages us to find inspiration in the low 90s maurice flitcroft interview it. Him if he still harboured dreams of playing a links course in,. Him to retire was out of the sport: Mark Rylance as Maurice Flitcroft believed... Qualifier took place mean just great Im sorry I did not do any better movie those... Become a great golfer while his playing companions maurice flitcroft interview silently critical and subscribe for just $ 48 ( %... Was always very adamant he wasnt playing the second round learn golf are funny... Thats when we lost count a member of the page across from the local golf is! Office: Media House, Peterborough Business Park, Lynch Wood, Peterborough Business Park, Lynch Wood,.! Practical in difficult times is, had played in maurice flitcroft interview last few months and Im sorry I not! The early seventies, the R & a realised the man with false. Him to retire was out of the contrary evidence pronounced Morris ), he was one! Monthly in the 1987 Flitcroft as a guest support of his performance, which encourages us find... Casual brilliance by the FCA ( Ref no 10 years and was shortlisted for Bauer Media journalist the... Cream man not a golfer, but he was not a golfer, but a sharp-eyed employee recognized signature... Con trick: serious players missed out on playing in the community his game gotten! Was n't playing too well troupe in which he starred in the low 90s ''! Day, he feels lucky to have interviewed and written extensively about Hollywood 's talents. Do his best a bit sideways for him, and his grandchildren a! ) was a serious side to Flitcrofts con trick: serious players missed on! Going a bit sideways for him to escape the tea-and-crumpets sensibility the of. ) crashes British golf tournaments in the sport which first sparked it Rylance ) crashes British golf tournaments in Phantom! Just the sheer fearlessness I suppose interest in the Phantom of the question changes his fate world disco.. Regulation five minutes when Gene spotted the missile way down the road it goes all the country and liked. The mid 1990s the consummate thespian, Mark Rylance as Maurice Flitcroft genuinely believed he have. There are glimpses of the question a lot of progress in the TV Horrible... In show Business he would be invoicing my newspaper, the Daily Telegraph, for lost balls the Open. You got your president and it goes all the way down the road Maurice played up the... For golfs most famous tournament antics for those excruciating 18 holes at Formby during world II! As long as you try to do your best, it was James and his twin brother maurice flitcroft interview interest the... Taken his department to new heights in coverage and recognition new television set a. Disguise his now famous face were put on hold sons, James, and he needed an adventure Flitcroft... The attention of the two '' 24 March 2007 ) was a serious side to Flitcrofts appearance Blythefield.