He was in somewhere he didn't belong. He's a great sort of clown. He quickly arouses the ire of tournament officials but becomes a hero to the common man. Farnaby is a member of the British Horrible Histories troupe in which he starred in the TV series Horrible Histories, Yonderland and Ghosts. We have kept that throughout life. I like true stories and I liked his character, especially the Don Quixote aspects of him. (Oh, I hope not!) 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. Our dad bought us clubs. Flitcroft, then 46, became a popular figure after shooting 121 in the qualifying round. '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 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. 2 and, by the time Ball No. Farnaby says he and director Craig Roberts got the perfect actor for the role. 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. Undeterred, Maurice practised hitting balls along his local beach, in the park, on school grounds and sometimes by sneaking on to courses at night. Undeterred by failure (and a lifetime ban), he re-enters under a fresh alias, donning a French accent and a moustache. Maurice's awful treatment from the local golf clubs is disheartening. That was more than enough embarrassment for the R&A, which circulated Flitcrofts photo to all qualifying sites. "I loved the book, Roald Dahl's book Charlie and the Chocolate Factory when I was a kid. Plus expert golfing tips, reviews, news & interviews; From $8.80 /mth (opens in new tab) View (opens in new tab that of Maurice Flitcroft who, in his 40s, decided he wanted to win The Open Championship. 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 He entered as Gerald Hoppy and made it into a qualifying round in 1984, dressed up as a suave Swiss and sporting a moustache. WebFlitcroft had golfing ambitions well above his ability and came to notoriety in 1976 when, posing as a professional golfer, he managed to obtain a place to play in the qualifying Well, to punish him for signing up as a professional and making it impossible to play on any course was really unnecessary and nasty. He believed that an individual should pursue happiness when possible. This service is provided on News Group Newspapers' Limited's Standard Terms and Conditions in accordance with our Privacy & Cookie Policy. I never actually played a full 18-hole round. A challenge to the elitism of the sport: Mark Rylance as Maurice Flitcroft in The Phantom of the Open. Despite the inherent silliness, the actors play it straight. An avid film buff, he feels lucky to have interviewed and written extensively about Hollywood's greatest talents. Maurice had a very cheap set. On anything. If this wasn't enough, another green had a 12-inch (300mm) cup. By the time he was halfway round the course, red-faced officials were urgently trying to persuade Maurice to retire gracefully. It turned out he was not the gifted player he had claimed to be. What did you admire most about Maurice and his story? Flitcroft prepared for the tournament by studying a golf instruction manual by Peter Alliss which was borrowed from his local library. And what a great film it would make. [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. His tribute to her in the third act left me in tears. Sorry. I sort of fell in love with golf. You were allowed to tee off for about five minutes every other Tuesday (laughing). They were an old-fashioned couple, James says: They supported each other in every endeavour. WebWhat a film! In the 1976 British Open, Maurice Flitcroft, a crane operator turned aspiring golfer, shot the worst qualifying round in the tournament's history. He is the subject of a biography, The Phantom of the Open, by Scott Murray and Simon Farnaby, published by Yellow Jersey Press in July 2010.[1]. 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. Done well, as in the late Roger Michell's art heist comedy The Duke, it can be a winning formula. It's what the current parlance might call shudder 'nicecore'. Half an hour later and the starter was calling On the tee, Maurice Flitcroft. And that was when his knees began to quake. 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. The Phantom of the Open rests on the mighty shoulders of Rylance. 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. 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.". [4], Flitcroft was born in Manchester on 23 November 1929. No disservice to the Tim Burton film, but I adore the Gene Wilder film, the 1973 version (Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory) even all the sets were made of plastic". Even though Maurice talked golf all the time, he never had complaints from wife Jean, played by Paddington actress Sally Hawkins in the movie. "I've tried to work out what it is about what we really love about him. Web99 Likes, TikTok video from Emily (@emily_donman): "But honestly, there was no clue on the subject? Farnaby also had a small role in both the first film and its sequel, before subsequently appearing alongside Paddington Bear and Queeen Elizabeth in a short film broadcast as part of the celebrations for the Queen's Platinum Jubilee in June of 2022. 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. H Bauer Publishing are authorised and regulated for credit broking by the FCA (Ref No. 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. 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 didn't have anyone to tell him you're really not very good because golf is a game you can play on your own. I guess you would call it a docker in the U.S. but that was the only option. [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. Academy and Tony Award-winning actor Sir Mark Rylance portrays Flitcroft in The Phantom of the Open. James says: We took up golf when we were ten or 11. The bystanders, who had hoped for something a bit special, returned to the clubhouse. London, England (CNN)-- When Maurice G. Flitcroft strode towards the first tee on an unseasonably hot English morning to begin his qualifying round for the 1976 41.3K subscribers. READ NEXT:The Phantom of The Open reviewed. Your email address will not be published. He played a few holes at South Herts before the R&A twigged to his real identity and tossed him off the course. He posted the worst score in The Opens history a 49-over-par 121 and his efforts drew theireofthegolfing elite, with him banned from every Open course for life by the R&A. Both Gene, who died in 2010, and James joined him on his capers up and down the land, sometimes acting as his caddy. He kept true to his dream. 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. What a story. While the brothers took a fair amount of ribbing, it was far worse for Maurice who was given his marching orders from work. 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. 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. Its imaginative delivery and superb acting are an absolute joy to behold. Mighty proud he was of them, too. I thoroughly enjoyed it but there was no pressure for me to do well, in fact it was important for me to do badly. 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. Undeterred, Flitcroft filed a bogus entry form for the 1978 championship under the name of Gene Pacecki, reportedly an American professional. If you love great journalism like this, you will love GGP+. They were vintage, though, and probably worth something now. Henrik Stenson was emerging from a previous showing when I arrived at the theatre. For the latest information, searchABC Emergency, For the latestweather warnings in the Northern Territory, search onABC Emergency. Wonder if Flitcrofts life will be glammed up? He entered as a professional, which he decidedly was not. To inquire about a licence to reproduce material, visit our Syndication site. In those days, the juniors and the women were sort of second class citizens. 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 Flitcroft refused to be defined by harsh criticism, mockery, and the scorn of an elitist golf culture. 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. Its pin high, dad, he cried. The second act documents their financial hardships. The English actor's socially maladjusted tech overlords in Steven Spielberg's Ready Player One and Adam McKay's Don't Look Up are among the more memorable turns in recent pop cinema, and he brings that sense of spaced-out other-worldliness to his performance here, making Flitcroft feel less like a naive Northerner than an extraterrestrial in a constant state of wonder at the human form it's inhabiting. I love the character (Willy Wonka), love the sort of magic, the chocolate, I mean just great. Michael joined Todays Golfer in 2016 and has exclusively interviewed dozens of Major champions, including Jordan Spieth, Tom Watson, Gary Player and Jack Nicklaus. Such steps, he thought, would enable him to play in the 94 Open under his own name and as an amateur. Primary Navigation - Desktop (Horizontal). Doug and his staff have received more than 200 awards from organizations like PRNDI, AP, New York Association of Black Journalists, Garden State Association of Black Journalists and the New Jersey Society of Professional Journalists. The titan of theater, film, and television gives Maurice a tough backbone with a caring soul. Why should golf fans go and see the film? 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. Who cares? that was the family attitude. He certainly admitted he could have done better, but he was always very adamant he wasnt the worlds worst golfer. He wasnt big-headed. Doug Doyle has been News Director at WBGO since 1998 and has taken his department to new heights in coverage and recognition. 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. He takes a liking to a sweet company secretary. Flitcroft said of his performance, "I wasn't playing too well. He wasn't skilled. 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. Space to play or pause, M to mute, left and right arrows to seek, up and down arrows for volume. The amateur player is a clear threat to anyone within hitting distance, but he also represents a challenge to the elitism of the sport. VAT no 918 5617 01 The sporting world might have treated him as a joke but he had wanted to become a great golfer. Simple. Indeed, his is not a story that ended with that ignominious Open defeat. Regardless of where those shots and the rest had ended up, Flitcrofts heart was in the right place. Things were going a bit sideways for him, and he needed an adventure. Literally. 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." Ive probably played less than 10 times on the golf course, so I had to book some lessons with a pro to become the worst golfer in the world. He even meets a charismatic young Spanish pro by name of Seve Ballesteros. Roberts finds humour in golfs topsy-turvy rules: the higher the score, the worse the game. He quite liked the idea when he saw us cleaning them and practising with our mates. I said, Dad, we have to take the tent down.. Gene would hear none of that, the reason being that he and his twin brother were disco-dancing champions who had always drawn strength from seeing fellow competitors in a spot of bother. He recalls with a smile: I wasnt keen on the confrontation but Dad revelled in it.. 10K views 10 months ago. 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. I think it's because for most of us, humiliation is our worst nightmare. Moore, Terry that is, had played in the 1987 Flitcroft as a guest. 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). Hes got to start somewhere, hasnt he? she said. The same applied with ball No. 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. 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. Michael informs his father that the crane crew will be trimmed. He says: It was filling up with cars. hipyard crane operator Maurice Flitcroft (. Maurice had turned up to watch and got close enough to Seve to be photographed with him. 8 min read Watch: Trailer for The Phantom of the Open Golf course chancer Maurice Flitcroft became notorious in the 1970s after he [The Upcoming]Maurice Flitcroft: a dreamer, unrelenting optimist and against all the odds a total golfing legend! It's a bit different now. 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. 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. [6], In a July 2006 article in Golfonline, Flitcroft said, "I was in show business. He and Ballesteros might have been miles apart in terms of talent, but they had one thing in common: they both learned to play on a beach. In the 70's there was a big shipyard there and that was the only job. Click here and subscribe for just $48 (20% off). Weve long been fans of Maurice Flitcrofts extraordinary story here at Todays Golfer. And so is the film. It wasn't all glass, just the front so the spectators could see what was going on under the water. Flitcroft kept trying to pull off his hoax in qualifying rounds in later years. In the Philippines, there are more mothers like her, 'Western law has finally caught up.' In 2017, Farnaby co-wrote Paddington 2 with Paul King. Flitcroft was taking his golf as seriously as any of his professional counterparts but, on the rare occasion when we werent looking for golf balls, he regaled me with details of his career. Back in the day, he promised his wife, Jean (Sally Hawkins), champagne, caviar and diamonds. Flitcroft sent in his entry form for the 1977 championship; the R&A rejected it. James insists he reached the standard of a decent club player and certainly was NOT the worlds worst. He withdrew after those, er, sterling 18 holes. Academy Award-nominee Sally Hawkins plays Maurice's supportive wife Jean. I went and visited Barrow-in-Furness and met one of his surviving sons, James, and his grandchildren. Well, it was the first film I made during the pandemic in 2020. He was all over the newspapers and magazines. His irrepressible attitude, always supported by his doting wife Jean (Sally Hawkins), will leave you grinning from ear to ear. 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. 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. #interview #magazine #orkney #journaling #uk #fyp #seaswimming #orkney Sign Up For Our Free Weekly Digital Magazine! 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. Original reporting and incisive analysis, direct from the Guardian every morning. Farnaby says Flitcroft's journey is amazing considering where he came from. I became aware of Flitcroft when he played that first time in the Open qualifier in 1976. He actually tried a few different things before he found golf. His family did very kindly send me his wonderful red hat, but it was too small, so we used a replica. Maurice also tried to disguise his now famous face. Having said that he was going to slosh his drive, my opponent dispatched his ball into ferns, never to be seen again. I spoke to Flitcroft via telephone when I worked for Golf Monthly in the mid 1990s. But James did not always like caddying because it often meant facing furious officials when Maurice had been rumbled. Maurice's efforts to learn golf are knockdown funny. He perseveres in practice until a clerical error results in an astounding development. [1][2] Subsequently, he gained significant media coverage, being referred to as "the world's worst golfer". BAFTA-winning writer Farnaby penned the script for the comedy drama which has been brought to life by director Craig Roberts and a star-studded cast, led by Rylance, Oscar nominee Sally Hawkins and Rhys Ifans. So for them to ask him to retire was out of the question. 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). 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. Wiki4All. I know what Im doing, said Flitcroft. 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. Unlock All Content, Become A Subscriber Today. "The Sun", "Sun", "Sun Online" are registered trademarks or trade names of News Group Newspapers Limited. 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. 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. Then 46 years old, Flitcroft shot 121, 49 over par. Actually, the R&A told Flitcroft in no uncertain terms he wasnt playing the second round. His wife Jean noticed this and so informed him. I saw Tiger Woods making a 10 on one hole. He always kept a very positive mindset about things, no matter how badly they were going. I think that a lot of the humour arises because so many people take golf very seriously. But his game had gotten a little better than I expected. The mid-70s were weird. Buy it, folks. Oscar-winning actor Mark Rylance (pictured) plays Flitcroft, while actor and filmmaker Craig Roberts is the films director. In 1988, Flitcroft himself was flown to Blythefield to play in the event. 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.. He tried to play a hand other than what was dealt to him. As a result of his abilities, he became known as "The Royal & Ancient Rabbit". "[7], According to his unpublished memoirs, Flitcroft took up the game after watching the 1974 Piccadilly World Match Play Championship. Farnaby grew up around golf and first remembers hearing about Flitcroft when he was around 11 years old. He, too, was stopped in his tracks after a few holes. Registered Office: Media House, Peterborough Business Park, Lynch Wood, Peterborough. Michael Catling is the Features Editor ofTodays Golfer. We were annoyed about that growing up. He further studied from instructional articles by the 1966 PGA Championship winner Al Geiberger, and honed his skills on a nearby beach.[4]. He's portrayed with a casual brilliance by the consummate thespian, Mark Rylance. Required fields are marked *. Jean encourages Maurice to find a passion for himself. But he was a self-anointed professional, right? 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? Maurice Gerald Flitcroft was a British golfer and audacious Our hero gave the Open a miss in 1977 but, by using a pseudonym, he tried again in 1978 and 79. Maurice Flitcroft (Mark Rylance) crashes British golf tournaments in The Phantom of the Open. 20. There was a stigma attached to what happened at the golf. 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