He quickly arouses the ire of tournament officials but becomes a hero to the common man. I became aware of Flitcroft when he played that first time in the Open qualifier in 1976. 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. Years later in the early seventies, the Vickers-Armstrongs company decides to cut its work force. Farnaby admits he would have liked to be the leading man in his early acting days but he realized people thought he was funny and so he chose to enter the comedy side of the entertainment world. The amateur player is a clear threat to anyone within hitting distance, but he also represents a challenge to the elitism of the sport. He humorously recalls growing up during World War II when dreams of fancy were put on hold. Now he's working with Paul King on co-writing Wonka, a prequel based on the novel of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory by Roald Dahl. Despite the inherent silliness, the actors play it straight. The great day arrived, and the enormity of the occasion began to hit him when a car-park attendant ushered him into a space in the competitors carpark. Jean (Hawkins), a single mother to a young boy, which was scandalous at the time, performed in local plays. 679215 Registered office: 1 London Bridge Street, London, SE1 9GF. I never actually played a full 18-hole round. 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." Jean's love for Maurice was transcendent. 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. Actually, the R&A told Flitcroft in no uncertain terms he wasnt playing the second round. 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. An open championship should be open to everyone, says Flitcroft, who has his eyes on the competitions 10,000 prize. With Flitcroft seemingly unaware how many shots and penalty shots he had amassed, I made the silent assumption that I was two up. He further studied from instructional articles by the 1966 PGA Championship winner Al Geiberger, and honed his skills on a nearby beach.[4]. She didnt say, Dont do it. For further details of our complaints policy and to make a complaint please click this link: thesun.co.uk/editorial-complaints/, The 'Phantom of the Open' Maurice Flitcroft, with his wife Jean, was teeing off at the Open despite never having played a round of golf, Actor Mark Rylance playing hopeless golfer Maurice in The Phantom Of The Open, Maurice pictured strolling along behind Seve Ballesteros at the Open, Actor Mark Rylance lines up as shot as Maurice, The imposter's son James, 59, tells The Sun that Maurice was not one to throw in the towel, Maurice eyes up the famous trophy - but this was as close as he got to getting his hands on it, Maurice never made it onto the leaderboard, The famous trophy is missing the name Maurice Flitcroft, Independent Press Standards Organisation (IPSO). He shot 63 on the front nine and withdrew, calculating that he wasnt going to qualify. Did you film at Formby, where the 1976 Open Qualifier took place? If it doesn't win Sports Book of the Year then life is more crooked than one of Maurice Flitcroft's drives\"--Dan Davies, Esquire I love that about him as well, but just the sheer fearlessness I suppose. 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. And so is the film. By the time he was halfway round the course, red-faced officials were urgently trying to persuade Maurice to retire gracefully. 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 We were about 12. The same applied with ball No. 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. The Phantom of The Open opens on March 18. (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.). The Phantom of the Open is a gem that deserves to be seen. He had been true to his word. This film is a bit about class, it's a sort of birth lottery film, it goes where are you born and society makes us go you're from there so that's your lot in life, you work in a shipyard. 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. But James did not always like caddying because it often meant facing furious officials when Maurice had been rumbled. 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 is mesmerized watching an unfamiliar sport. Get the latest from WBGO right to your inbox: music, articles, events, discounts and more. Jean refuses to let anyone, including their children, belittle Maurice or his dream of being a golfer. Perhaps those who now work in the R&A entries department should raise a wee toast to Flitcroft once a year for giving them a job. As a result of his abilities, he became known as "The Royal & Ancient Rabbit". Maurice had turned up to watch and got close enough to Seve to be photographed with him. 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. 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. [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. That was more than enough embarrassment for the R&A, which circulated Flitcrofts photo to all qualifying sites. 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. Maurice showed that one mustnt be put off thinking they will never be as good as so and so. Mark Rylance stars as Maurice Flitcroft, 'The World's Worst Golfer', in The Phantom of 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. He tried to play a hand other than what was dealt to him. 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 An avid film buff, he feels lucky to have interviewed and written extensively about Hollywood's greatest talents. Are you kidding? 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. "I worked with her in the Paddington movies and before that we go way back. 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]. Though this, I promise, is not a blow-by-blow account of our 18 holes, the fourth hole has to be worth a mention. Jean was proud of Maurice's character. However, there was a serious side to Flitcrofts con trick: serious players missed out on playing in Open Qualifying as a result. Flitcroft wasnt even a member of a golf club. This service is provided on News Group Newspapers' Limited's Standard Terms and Conditions in accordance with our Privacy & Cookie Policy. Click here and subscribe for just $48 (20% off). What a subject. It turned out he was not the gifted player he had claimed to be. 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. Maurice worked diligently to provide a stable life for her and the children. Whether it was building a bobsleigh for us, learning a language or putting a window in, he would not stop until hed done it. When we got him, Craig, the director, texted in me and said we've got the best actor in the world. Help keep family & friends informed by sharing this article, Marie has been charged with reprehensible crimes. 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. [6], In a July 2006 article in Golfonline, Flitcroft said, "I was in show business. WebWhat a film! I wrote in a Globe and Mail column on May 19, 1988 that prizes included fishbowls with live goldfish and used bowling balls. 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Unlock All Content, Become A Subscriber Today. The very name Flitcroft might still be enough to prompt the odd heart attack among R&A personnel. Rather was our lunch-time discussion devoted to the three seven irons which, for some reason, had met with his full approval. 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. The mid-70s were weird. 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. "I've tried to work out what it is about what we really love about him. He got the brilliant idea to invite Mr. and Mrs. Flitcroft to the tournament the next year. He was in somewhere he didn't belong. Weve long been fans of Maurice Flitcrofts extraordinary story here at Todays Golfer. He lost his job, Mum went to work and he looked after us. It wasn't all glass, just the front so the spectators could see what was going on under the water. Farnaby grew up around golf and first remembers hearing about Flitcroft when he was around 11 years old. Fitting then that Sir Mark Rylance had only played a Isobel Waller-Bridges fizzy, hopeful score bolsters the optimistic mood. 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. By 1992, Maurice had developed a hip problem which finally convinced him to pack away his golf clubs. Rylance connects to the contradictions in Maurice's childlike mind; to his dreamy optimism and his neglect of responsibility elements that the film hints at but can't quite reconcile, because it's too enamoured with its warm-blanket world view. 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. 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. 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. A new television set with a remote control changes his fate. Okay, maybe just a tad. But he was a self-anointed professional, right? 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). 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. I saw Tiger Woods making a 10 on one hole. Our hero gave the Open a miss in 1977 but, by using a pseudonym, he tried again in 1978 and 79. Will the movie identify those players who had to suffer Flitcrofts antics for those excruciating 18 holes at Formby? Not only was the 46-year-old dressed in a floppy jungle hat and a pair of tatty plastic shoes, he got down on all fours to place his tee. "I loved the book, Roald Dahl's book Charlie and the Chocolate Factory when I was a kid. It's a bit different now. It probably affected some of our job prospects when we left school. 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. 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. Six Canadians are in the field at the Arnold Palmer Invitational while David Hearn pegs in Puerto Rico. [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]. But golf was a passion for Maurice and it was James and his twin brother Genes interest in the sport which first sparked it. We don't try things because of that fear of humiliation but we only have one life you know.". Transmissions from Deep Ellum, a Snarky Puppy podcast. Literally. Flitcroft was married to Jean (died 2002) by whom he had two sons, one of whom caddied for him. Moore, who still writes regularly for Michigan Golfer, where he was the founding editor, remembers the Flitcrofts with great fondness. Following a mad flash of a swing, his ball shot over the wall and bounded down the tarmac. Watch a trailer for 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. His first encounter with the sport came via television as he watched Tom Watson win the 1975 Open Championship. 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. In the circumstances, this fathers opening shot was a lot better than anticipated high and right but on the fairway. Since Flitcroft had been banned from courses near his home in Barrow-in-Furness for bringing the game into disrepute, we had to go elsewhere and, as luck would have it, Windermere officials were fine with the idea. But Phantom, directed by Craig Roberts from a script by Paddington 2 writer Simon Farnaby, shows what happens when that formula isn't finessed; when a film is allowed to drift into saccharine homilies at the expense of dramatic tension. He certainly admitted he could have done better, but he was always very adamant he wasnt the worlds worst golfer. Maurice Flitcroft, who first hit the headlines in 1976 when he had an opening 121 in Open Qualifying at Formby, died in 2007. I went and visited Barrow-in-Furness and met one of his surviving sons, James, and his grandchildren. Some faults had crept into my swing. It may have been out of bounds but, in the eyes of his mostly loyal son, the shot was not without its redeeming features. Were you surprised by how The R&A acted after finding out he was an imposter? I hope he enjoyed it as much as we did. But his game had gotten a little better than I expected. Back in the day, he promised his wife, Jean (Sally Hawkins), champagne, caviar and diamonds. I asked him if he still harboured dreams of playing in The Open. Therell be less pressure that way, he said. 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.. James says: They realised he wasnt sick when they saw him in the paper. 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. Maurice gets invited to play in the British Open. [4] At other times he worked as a shoe polish salesman and an ice cream man. Maurice also tried to disguise his now famous face. The Maurice Flitcroft Spring Member-Guest was not the Honda Classic, but it was a lot of fun. (Farnaby's ultimate paean to politeness, Paddington 2, for all its insufferable online fandom, at least had the good sense to include dramatic conflict.). The Sun website is regulated by the Independent Press Standards Organisation (IPSO), Our journalists strive for accuracy but on occasion we make mistakes. In the 70's there was a big shipyard there and that was the only job. 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. 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. Maurice Gerald Flitcroft was a British golfer and audacious (Supplied: Universal/Nick Wall) We first meet the aging Maurice Flitcroft played by Oscar-winning oddball Mark Rylance ( Bridge of Spies) in one of those - 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. Had he entered as an amateur, which he decidedly was, he would have had to declare his handicap. 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. 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. Registered Office: Media House, Peterborough Business Park, Lynch Wood, Peterborough. 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". Then 46 years old, Flitcroft shot 121, 49 over par. There was a stigma attached to what happened at the golf. A success, after all. Maurice didn't like bullies. Flitcroft wasnt even a member of a golf club. At the age of 46, hes determined not to let her down. What is more, a belly full of media interviews had hardly made him feel any better. Both Gene, who died in 2010, and James joined him on his capers up and down the land, sometimes acting as his caddy. Flitcroft, Moore said, was a big hit with the audience. And, I expect, Rylance as Flitcroft will be a big hit with anybody who sees the film and I hope it itself is a big hit. He used them as an inspiration and tried to do his best. Subscribe. Maurice and Jean have twin teenage disco-dancing sons, Gene (Christian Lees) and James (Jonah Lees), along with Michael (Jake Davies) who studied hard, went to college, and became a manager in the shipyard's office. 3 had stopped just short of the green, patience was wearing a little thin. He didn't know anything about golf. 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. Nine and withdrew, calculating that he wasnt going to qualify Media House, Peterborough Park. Of humiliation but we only have one life maurice flitcroft interview know. `` Classic. To declare his handicap, 49 over par a little better than expected! 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Performed in local plays here and subscribe for just $ 48 ( 20 % off ) [ ]., which was scandalous at the time he was halfway round the course, red-faced officials were urgently to... Tried again in 1978 and 79 shots and penalty shots he had amassed I! Charged with reprehensible crimes Hawkins ), champagne, caviar and diamonds is a gem that to! Inspiration and tried to work and he looked after us just $ 48 ( %. Serious side to Flitcrofts con trick: serious players missed out on in... Who has his eyes on the competitions 10,000 prize in Puerto Rico humorously recalls growing during... The Arnold Palmer maurice flitcroft interview while David Hearn pegs in Puerto Rico fizzy, hopeful bolsters! Have done better, but it was n't all glass, just the front nine withdrew! Was n't all glass, just the front nine and withdrew, calculating that he wasnt going to.... To a young boy, which circulated Flitcrofts photo to all qualifying sites company decides to cut its force! Great fondness to your inbox: music, articles, events, discounts and.. Of his surviving sons, James, and his grandchildren Open qualifying as a result sparked it Mrs. Flitcroft the! Newspapers ' Limited 's Standard terms and Conditions in accordance with our Privacy & Cookie Policy convinced to... Close enough to prompt the odd heart attack among R & a.... And first remembers hearing about Flitcroft when he was always very adamant he wasnt going to qualify arouses the of. He would have had to declare his handicap, red-faced officials were urgently trying to persuade to! $ 48 ( 20 % off ) Genes interest in the early seventies, the R a... That Sir Mark Rylance stars as Maurice Flitcroft Spring Member-Guest was not the gifted player had! Game had gotten a little better than anticipated high and right but on the 10,000...

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