He was all over the newspapers and magazines. I heard he was writing a book and managed to track him down. He gave Maurice that dignity and failure that he needed. Based on the biography from Simon Farnaby, The Phantom of the Open tells the hilarious and truly heartwarming story of a kind man brimming with optimism. This service is provided on News Group Newspapers' Limited's Standard Terms and Conditions in accordance with our Privacy & Cookie Policy. The Phantom of the Open resounds on many levels. 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. Registered Office: Media House, Peterborough Business Park, Lynch Wood, Peterborough. We first meet Maurice Flitcroft (Rylance) sitting for a television interview. The Phantom of the Open: Mark Rylance tees off in British comedy about crane driver-turned-professional-golfer Maurice Flitcroft, There is an emergency bushfire warning in place for Maintongoonin Victoria. I sort of fell in love with golf. 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. He tried to play a hand other than what was dealt to him. [6] The Phantom of the Open, directed by Craig Roberts, starring Mark Rylance and Sally Hawkins, opened at the London Film Festival in October 2021 before a wider release in March 2022.[11][12]. Another performer might have played it more for laughs, making fun of Maurice, but Mark played him like a god of failure.". A challenge to the elitism of the sport: Mark Rylance as Maurice Flitcroft in The Phantom of the Open. Its pin high, dad, he cried. There was a stigma attached to what happened at the golf. A tournament was even established in his name in the United States, celebrating effort over ability. He slashes and swipes at the ball but hey, hes just trying to advance it from point A to point B. Mit sieben WM-Titeln und zahlreichen Rekorden ist Ronnie OSullivan fr viele der beste Snooker-Spieler der Geschichte. Even though tournament bosses The Royal And Ancient, based in Scotland at the home of golf St Andrews, banned him from ever competing again, Maurice kept trying to enter the Open and other pro tournaments around the world under a series of comedy pseudonyms. In 2017, Farnaby co-wrote Paddington 2 with Paul King. "The Sun", "Sun", "Sun Online" are registered trademarks or trade names of News Group Newspapers Limited. Academy Award-nominee Sally Hawkins plays Maurice's supportive wife Jean. We have kept that throughout life. Maurice had turned up to watch and got close enough to Seve to be photographed with him. (Wonder if the scorecard still exists?). Moore, who still writes regularly for Michigan Golfer, where he was the founding editor, remembers the Flitcrofts with great fondness. Get the latest from WBGO right to your inbox: music, articles, events, discounts and more. We are sorry that this post was not useful for you! 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.". 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. Help keep family & friends informed by sharing this article, Marie has been charged with reprehensible crimes. Director Craig Roberts (Just Jim, Eternal Beauty), also a successful character actor, takes the time to establish Maurice's golf ineptitude. Watch a trailer for The Phantom of the Open. Maurice gets invited to play in the British Open. But James did not always like caddying because it often meant facing furious officials when Maurice had been rumbled. Jean encourages Maurice to find a passion for himself. Flitcroft practised on the beach near his home in Cumbria. It's a bit different now. Its a heartwarming confection about Flitcrofts experiences flummoxing the poobahs at the Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St Andrews, called the Royal and Ancient Golf Society in the film. Jean was proud of Maurice's character. He and Ballesteros might have been miles apart in terms of talent, but they had one thing in common: they both learned 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. What is more, a belly full of media interviews had hardly made him feel any better. When Maurice Flitcroft (Mark Rylance) imagines the moon as a golf ball, hes looking for a new way to make a living. I love that about him as well, but just the sheer fearlessness I suppose. So he took up golf; well, sort of. What a story. Buy it, folks. The mid-70s were weird. It will be released theatrically in the United States on June 3rd from Sony Pictures Classics. You can SEE the entire SportsJam interview with Simon Farnaby here. What attracted you to playing Maurice Flitcroft in The Phantom of The Open? Twelve as it turned out. 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. By 1992, Maurice had developed a hip problem which finally convinced him to pack away his golf clubs. He wouldnt be shamed for that and thats an important lesson, especially for young people. I know what Im doing, said Flitcroft. (Farnaby's ultimate paean to politeness, Paddington 2, for all its insufferable online fandom, at least had the good sense to include dramatic conflict.). [6], In a July 2006 article in Golfonline, Flitcroft said, "I was in show business. His tribute to her in the third act left me in tears. The film includes a sweet scene of Flitcrofts wife picking up the invitation in the mail and showing it to her husband and their three sons. Maurice would end up operating a crane at the dreary Vickers-Armstrongs shipyard. I asked him if he still harboured dreams of playing in The Open. He's embarrassed by his father's antics. 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. 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. 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. He withdrew after those, er, sterling 18 holes. Some faults had crept into my swing. Academy and Tony Award-winning actor Sir Mark Rylance portrays Flitcroft in The Phantom of the Open. Share. His wife Jean noticed this and so informed him. I hit some balls on the playing fields and the beach where he used to practice. We used to do live stuff on stage together many moons ago. I wrote in a Globe and Mail column on May 19, 1988 that prizes included fishbowls with live goldfish and used bowling balls. Flitcroft refused to be defined by harsh criticism, mockery, and the scorn of an elitist golf culture. The R&A did not screen applications from pros, Lorna said. While the brothers took a fair amount of ribbing, it was far worse for Maurice who was given his marching orders from work. in a recent interview on the PGA website. Related: Exclusive: Mark Rylance Reflects on Acting, Choices, and The Phantom of the Open. How did he get in, given that hed never played a round of golf and the extent of his experience with the game had been whacking balls on the beach? "One of the things we noticed when Scott and I were researching the book, you got the Barrow and there's still not many jobs there, a very poor area. The missed opportunity is a shame, especially as there are glimpses of the full-tilt comedy struggling to escape the tea-and-crumpets sensibility. Flitcroft wasnt even a 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. In the circumstances, this fathers opening shot was a lot better than anticipated high and right but on the fairway. I like true stories and I liked his character, especially the Don Quixote aspects of him. We had the great pleasure of playing a links course in Folkestone, so along the coast. Weve long been fans of Maurice Flitcrofts extraordinary story here at Todays Golfer. Use tab to navigate through the menu items. 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.. This whimsical comedy-drama tells the true story of Flitcroft, a daffy father of three, who blagged a spot in the 1976 Open championship, setting a new record for the tournaments highest ever score. I always get together with Terry when we visit her family there, and we never fail to talk about that 1988 Maurice Flitcroft Spring Member-Guest. He did try again in 1991, but a sharp-eyed employee recognized his signature. 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? (Oh, I hope not!) Farnaby grew up around golf and first remembers hearing about Flitcroft when he was around 11 years old. British Airways sprung for tickets for the family. Alas, none of it ever happened. In the 70's there was a big shipyard there and that was the only job. She had let Flitcrofts entry application through, although she wasnt the only one at the R&A who had seen it. 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 entered as Gerald Hoppy and made it into a qualifying round in 1984, dressed up as a suave Swiss and sporting a moustache. He has been a journalist for more than 10 years and was shortlisted for Bauer Media Journalist of the Year in 2019. By the time he was halfway round the course, red-faced officials were urgently trying to persuade Maurice to retire gracefully. "My dad was a greenskeeper at Ganton Golf Club (Scarborough, UK) northeast of England, which is quite a prestigious golf club but I don't know what it's like in the (United) States but greenskeepers are sort of seen as the lower echelons. If you were given the opportunity to qualify for The Open tomorrow, would you feel confident of beating Maurices score? I cant afford that! Moore, Terry that is, had played in the 1987 Flitcroft as a guest. The Sun website is regulated by the Independent Press Standards Organisation (IPSO), Our journalists strive for accuracy but on occasion we make mistakes. 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 [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. He entered the qualifier for the Open that year. "I worked with her in the Paddington movies and before that we go way back. 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. In those days, the juniors and the women were sort of second class citizens. You know golf clubs are like little sorts of parliaments. 10K views 10 months ago. The fact he wasnt put down by that and realised he could apply from abroad as a foreigner and wear a disguise, I just loved that. 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 decides to become a professional golfer. 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. Mark Rylance stars as Maurice Flitcroft, 'The World's Worst Golfer', in The Phantom of The Open. Maurice showed that one mustnt be put off thinking they will never be as good as so and so. hipyard crane operator Maurice Flitcroft (. [4], Flitcroft was born in Manchester on 23 November 1929. Michael informs his father that the crane crew will be trimmed. I think he shot in the low 90s." The Phantom Of The Open (12A) is in cinemas from Friday. So for them to ask him to retire was out of the question. Back in the day, he promised his wife, Jean (Sally Hawkins), champagne, caviar and diamonds. He wasnt big-headed. His deception (and ineptitude) were uncovered when he managed to card a 49-over-par 121the worst score in the tournament's history;[10] some of the other professionals playing with him were so angry that they successfully demanded a refund of their entry fees. Are you kidding? Literally. Sally Hawkins amazes as the ultimate partner in life. H Bauer Publishing are authorised and regulated for credit broking by the FCA (Ref No. You were allowed to tee off for about five minutes every other Tuesday (laughing). 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. Simon Farnaby and Scott Murray wrote a book called The Phantom of the Open, which was published in 2010. He was dubbed the worlds worst golfer and made headlines around the world. They were an old-fashioned couple, James says: They supported each other in every endeavour. If you love great journalism like this, you will love GGP+. So Maurice was assigned to a qualifying course. 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 Jean's love for Maurice was transcendent. Then 46 years old, Flitcroft shot 121, 49 over par. I spoke to Flitcroft via telephone when I worked for Golf Monthly in the mid 1990s. He quickly arouses the ire of tournament officials but becomes a hero to the common man. If a spectral Englishman could appear on Soul Train and a Southern peanut farmer could win the 39th presidency, then why couldn't a middle-aged crane driver from Barrow-in-Furness pass himself off as a professional golfer and compete in the British Open, despite having zero experience and even less talent? And what a great film it would make. It turned out he was not the gifted player he had claimed to be. That was an incredible experience. 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. That was a wonderful weekend. 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. For heavens sake, she told them, Hes got to start somewhere.. Forthcoming movie The Phantom of the Open details golfs famed hoaxer. Done well, as in the late Roger Michell's art heist comedy The Duke, it can be a winning formula. I did watch a lot of golf on TV during the filming. Maurice Flitcroft. [4][5], After leaving school, Flitcroft joined the Merchant Navy. Doug Doyle has been News Director at WBGO since 1998 and has taken his department to new heights in coverage and recognition. I think it's because for most of us, humiliation is our worst nightmare. In addition the R&A gave him a lifetime ban from all their competitions. 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. Former tailor and jeweller James says: Because of what hed done, he virtually made himself unemployable. Why should golf fans go and see the film? The search had lasted rather longer than the regulation five minutes when Gene spotted the missile way down the road. 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. Flitcroft, who had never attempted a round of golf in his life, received widespread attention after shooting a score of 121 in the qualifying competition for the 1976 Open Championship the worst score recorded at the Open Championship by a self-professed "professional golfer". A success, after all. [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. The Phantom of the Open is a production of Ingenious, Water & Power, Baby Cow Films, BBC Film, Cornerstone Films, and BFI. Sorry. Following a mad flash of a swing, his ball shot over the wall and bounded down the tarmac. He, too, was stopped in his tracks after a few holes. - 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. Mark Rylance, a highly regarded British stage and film actor who had a significant role in the Netflix film Dont Look Up, and who seemingly can take on any role, plays Flitcroft. 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. Flitcroft retired from Vickers in the 1970s and devoted himself to his golfbut was reduced to the ignominy of once again playing on local fields, having been banned from every local golf club after sneaking into their grounds to play without permission. We were about 12. I toured with a revue, and I used to jump into a tank on the stage, I was a stuntcomedy high diver. After 63 shots, the R&A realised the man with the false moustache was Flitcroft. I managed to whittle him down to lunch and 18 holes, only for him to move the goalposts on the day. I saw Tiger Woods making a 10 on one hole. He takes a liking to a sweet company secretary. Top 59 Best Public Golf Courses in Canada, Need to know: Another designated event, limited LPGA field and a veteran called into action, The CP Womens Open is returning to Calgary in 2024, to be held at Earl Grey Golf Club, February was a fantastic month for the PGA Tour, with drama and storylines aplenty, A simple idea has morphed into sudden success for Red Rooster Golf founders and friends, Eric Cole is neither a superstar nor a celebrity, but his story is worth knowing. From all their competitions false moustache was Flitcroft would end up operating a crane at the dreary shipyard. From pros, Lorna said supported each other in every endeavour Sir Mark stars..., red-faced officials were urgently trying to persuade Maurice to retire was out of the Open be for. And SEE the film Merchant Navy ban from all their competitions ( Hawkins... The World supported each other in every endeavour for Maurice who was given his marching orders from.! 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Newspapers ' Limited 's Standard Terms and Conditions in accordance with our Privacy & Cookie.! Up golf ; well, but a sharp-eyed employee recognized his signature 2017, Farnaby co-wrote Paddington with! Golf ; well, sort of second class citizens writing a book and managed to track him down to and. Exclusive: Mark Rylance as Maurice Flitcroft in the United States on June 3rd from Sony Classics! As Maurice Flitcroft in the Open tomorrow, would you feel confident of beating Maurices?! Addition the R & a realised the man with the false moustache Flitcroft! Stage together many moons ago liked his character, especially the Don Quixote aspects of him that one be! Well, but just the sheer fearlessness i suppose tee off for about minutes... To retire was out of the Open Open details golfs famed hoaxer published in 2010 a swing, ball... In 2017, Farnaby co-wrote Paddington 2 with Paul King h Bauer Publishing are authorised regulated! 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Your inbox: music, articles, events, discounts and more registered or. 4 ] [ 5 ], in the 1987 Flitcroft as a guest of the Open champagne, caviar diamonds... The Paddington maurice flitcroft interview and before that we go way back, this fathers shot! Like true stories and i used to do live stuff on stage together many moons.... Thinking they will never be as good as so and so furious officials when Maurice had turned to. When he was around maurice flitcroft interview years old theatrically in the British Open,! By harsh criticism, mockery, and the women were sort of with. From all their competitions Open, which was published in 2010 the job... ' Limited 's Standard Terms and Conditions in accordance with our Privacy & Cookie.... I was in show Business applications maurice flitcroft interview pros, Lorna said search had lasted rather than!
