Most of the management played golf. When he chances upon a game of golf while watching TV one evening, hes launched into a new world. In the 1976 British Open, Maurice Flitcroft, a crane operator turned aspiring golfer, shot the worst qualifying round in the tournament's history. [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. (Oh, I hope not!) It turned out he was not the gifted player he had claimed to be. What a subject. The Phantom of the Open is a gem that deserves to be seen. James says: They realised he wasnt sick when they saw him in the paper. We used the same type of clubs, but not the originals. He was like a folk hero to us juniors because he gave a little kick in the ass to the senior members and we liked 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. In 2017, Farnaby co-wrote Paddington 2 with Paul King. Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window), Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window), Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window). So began a round in which he was at sixes and sevens while his playing companions were silently critical. He's a great sort of clown. I managed to whittle him down to lunch and 18 holes, only for him to move the goalposts on the day. 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. Had he entered as an amateur, which he decidedly was, he would have had to declare his handicap. They're like little governance. I wrote in a Globe and Mail column on May 19, 1988 that prizes included fishbowls with live goldfish and used bowling balls. He was the most besotted golfer I ever met. Farnaby wrote the script for the movie of the same name. Montages of Maurice butting heads with the stuffy establishment (led by Rhys Ifans's suitably villainous-sounding secretary of the Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St Andrews) ensue, where Roberts gets some comic mileage from the familiar targets lampooning the entitlement of the game and finding amusement in its many ridiculous, archaic rules. 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. That was more than enough embarrassment for the R&A, which circulated Flitcrofts photo to all qualifying sites. What a story. 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. He kind of sees himself in Maurice Flitcroft. 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. You deserve it!\"--Lawrence Donegan, The Guardian\"Heart-warming and bizarre the laugh-out-loud book of the summer\"--Tom Cox, author of Nice Jumper and Bring Me The Head Of Sergio Garcia, and Golf International columnist\"A joyful biography\"--Dan Jones, London Evening Standard\"Don Quixote with a nine-iron\"--Julian Barratt, The Mighty Boosh\"I bet you're going to buy it, because it sounds like a great tale\"--John Inverdale, BBC Radio Five Live\"What a book. Maurice gets invited to play in the British Open. We used to do live stuff on stage together many moons ago. The Phantom of the Open resounds on many levels. 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 Over the next decade, Flitcroft would continue in his attempts to enter the Open in a series of more outlandish identities, and the sight of Maurice in flagrantly fake disguises suggests an Andy Kaufman-like put-on that a more imaginative film might have indulged. He humorously recalls growing up during World War II when dreams of fancy were put on hold. 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. Jupiter, Fla. While some of the games best golfers were completing their preparations for this weeks Honda Classic, I joined some fellow writers at a nearby theatre to watch a preview screening of a film about a charming fellow who proved himself to be one of the worst. Maurice Flitcroft. Flitcroft was married to Jean (died 2002) by whom he had two sons, one of whom caddied for him. Its pin high, dad, he cried. On each occasion he was chased from the course by a referee. But on Friday of this week in the He had been true to his word. We acknowledge Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples as the First Australians and Traditional Custodians of the lands where we live, learn, and work. [The Upcoming]Maurice Flitcroft: a dreamer, unrelenting optimist and against all the odds a total golfing legend! [4], Flitcroft was born in Manchester on 23 November 1929. Undeterred, Flitcroft filed a bogus entry form for the 1978 championship under the name of Gene Pacecki, reportedly an American professional. His first encounter with the sport came via television as he watched Tom Watson win the 1975 Open Championship. He's embarrassed by his father's antics. View our online Press Pack. Jean encourages Maurice to find a passion for himself. Simple. He would then be dubbed "the worst golfer in the world" as he gained global fame for continually crashing the prestigious event. Our hero gave the Open a miss in 1977 but, by using a pseudonym, he tried again in 1978 and 79. 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. 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 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. Hes flung around the world like a golf ball, dizzy with the sense of possibility. At times, Roberts seems to have considered just that there are enough giddy whip pans and dolly ins to suggest the director seemed to think he was making a slippery, Scorsese-esque tale of irony and ambition. I think it's because for most of us, humiliation is our worst nightmare. 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. 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. So Maurice was assigned to a qualifying course. He always kept a very positive mindset about things, no matter how badly they were going. 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. 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. They'd call him shipyard fodder. Then on the Saturday The Sun had a banner headline that Maurice Flitcroft shot 121 in the Open. I love that about him as well, but just the sheer fearlessness I suppose. He was a comedy high diver, he was a stunt diver and he couldn't do that either. Therell be less pressure that way, he said. Half an hour later and the starter was calling On the tee, Maurice Flitcroft. And that was when his knees began to quake. 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. While the brothers took a fair amount of ribbing, it was far worse for Maurice who was given his marching orders from work. 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. He decides to become a professional golfer. He quite liked the idea when he saw us cleaning them and practising with our mates. His entry was accepted. I toured with a revue, and I used to jump into a tank on the stage, I was a stuntcomedy high diver. It may have been out of bounds but, in the eyes of his mostly loyal son, the shot was not without its redeeming features. He used them as an inspiration and tried to do his best. 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. In his spare time he plays guitar, treasures good company, and always seeks new adventures. Starring Mark Rylance and Sally Hawkins, watch the delightful #ThePhantomOfTheOpen tee off only in cinemas March 18. pic.twitter.com/lh6bRdbDMv. If Tiger Woods can do that, I dont need to feel bad about Maurice G. Flitcroft doing that! 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. He actually tried a few different things before he found golf. 2 and, by the time Ball No. Maurice's efforts to learn golf are knockdown funny. 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. His love for theater and music deemed not practical in difficult times. I said, Dad, we have to take the tent down.. Maurice Flitcroft genuinely believed he could win the Claret Jug. He says: Dad took it seriously deadly serious. 8 min read Watch: Trailer for The Phantom of the Open Golf course chancer Maurice Flitcroft became notorious in the 1970s after he By 1992, Maurice had developed a hip problem which finally convinced him to pack away his golf clubs. Maurice also tried to disguise his now famous face. Glory days. Flitcroft practised on the beach near his home in Cumbria. Transmissions from Deep Ellum, a Snarky Puppy podcast. Now his story is about to be told on the silver screen. 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. She had let Flitcrofts entry application through, although she wasnt the only one at the R&A who had seen it. James adds: One weekend he went away and we didnt think anything of it. But golf was a passion for Maurice and it was James and his twin brother Genes interest in the sport which first sparked it. It was a pity they missed the par-four second. #interview #magazine #orkney #journaling #uk #fyp #seaswimming #orkney A new television set with a remote control changes his fate. 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. A tournament was even established in his name in the United States, celebrating effort over ability. Simon Farnaby and Scott Murray wrote a book called The Phantom of the Open, which was published in 2010. I hit some balls on the playing fields and the beach where he used to practice. But James did not always like caddying because it often meant facing furious officials when Maurice had been rumbled. Heres a trailer for the film. Michael joined Todays Golfer in 2016 and has exclusively interviewed dozens of Major champions, including Jordan Spieth, Tom Watson, Gary Player and Jack Nicklaus. But I hit a lot of good shots.. A limo picked them up. He would shot the Open's record worst score of 121. AS unknown golfer Maurice Flitcroft teed up his ball to take a tilt at the sports most eminent tournament, something was clearly amiss. An open championship should be open to everyone, says Flitcroft, who has his eyes on the competitions 10,000 prize. "The Sun", "Sun", "Sun Online" are registered trademarks or trade names of News Group Newspapers Limited. The Sun website is regulated by the Independent Press Standards Organisation (IPSO), Our journalists strive for accuracy but on occasion we make mistakes. 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. Unlock All Content, Become A Subscriber Today. We are sorry that this post was not useful for you! 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. [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. [4] At other times he worked as a shoe polish salesman and an ice cream man. Undeterred, he regularly attempted to enter the Open and several other golf competitions, either under his own name or under pseudonyms, such as Gene Paycheki[3] (as in pay cheque), Gerrard Hoppy, and James Beau Jolley. 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. (Wonder if the scorecard still exists?). 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). 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. Farnaby grew up around golf and first remembers hearing about Flitcroft when he was around 11 years old. The search had lasted rather longer than the regulation five minutes when Gene spotted the missile way down the road. 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. After 63 shots, the R&A realised the man with the false moustache was Flitcroft. Use tab to navigate through the menu items. 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. 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. Flitcroft prepared for the tournament by studying a golf instruction manual by Peter Alliss which was borrowed from his local library. 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 With Flitcroft seemingly unaware how many shots and penalty shots he had amassed, I made the silent assumption that I was two up. You must have JavaScript enabled to fill out this form. Maurice just didn't want to do it. Michael informs his father that the crane crew will be trimmed. A crane operator in the local shipyard in Barrow-on-Furness, where he lived, he decided to take up golf as an avocation after coming across the 1975 Open on television. "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. Original reporting and incisive analysis, direct from the Guardian every morning. (Farnaby's ultimate paean to politeness, Paddington 2, for all its insufferable online fandom, at least had the good sense to include dramatic conflict.). He knew writers in England, who helped him contact the couple. That was and remains the highest score ever. 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. 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. 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". Flitcroft kept trying to pull off his hoax in qualifying rounds in later years. (Laughs) I dont think I would do better than Maurice. His shots did not improve, as he blasted into bushes and skewed simple putts. He entered the qualifier for the Open that year. He quickly arouses the ire of tournament officials but becomes a hero to the common man. That he had lost every hole in our game never got a mention, either from me or from him. 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. 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. 679215 Registered office: 1 London Bridge Street, London, SE1 9GF. The second act documents their financial hardships. Mark said I've never been offered a comedy before, so we thought 'Oh God', but of course he's brilliant. 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. 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. I mean he didn't know he wasn't those things but even when he found out he was like 'well you know I gave it my best shot, I gave it a go'. 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". He says: It was filling up with cars. Share. in a recent interview on the PGA website. 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