For other inquiries, Contact Us. Unlock All Content, Become A Subscriber Today. 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. WebMaurice Flitcroft was the 'Phantom of the Open' - an undaunted amateur who tricked his way into competing among golf's elite. 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. He quite liked the idea when he saw us cleaning them and practising with our mates. He had a very strong sense of justice, probably more so than we depicted in the film. Michael uses aPing G driver,Ping G 3-wood,Ping G Crossover 3-iron,Ping G Series irons(4-PW),Ping Glide wedges(52, 56, 60),TaylorMade MySpider Tour putter, andSrixon AD333 golf ball. A tournament was even established in his name in the United States, celebrating effort over ability. Despite the inherent silliness, the actors play it straight. [4][5], After leaving school, Flitcroft joined the Merchant Navy. 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. Far fetched? Son James says: My mum dyed his moustache and hair. Mark said I've never been offered a comedy before, so we thought 'Oh God', but of course he's brilliant. Maurice also tried to disguise his now famous face. By 1992, Maurice had developed a hip problem which finally convinced him to pack away his golf clubs. M aurice Flitcroft, who first hit the headlines in 1976 when he had an opening 121 in Open Qualifying at Formby, died in 2007. So he took up golf; well, sort of. [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. I just hit a lot of balls into a practice net, though. Simple. I have no chance of qualifying, Flitcroft said. Maurice had turned up to watch and got close enough to Seve to be photographed with him. Original reporting and incisive analysis, direct from the Guardian every morning. Fast forward again to Flitcrofts appearance at Blythefield in 1988, where he and Jean and their sons were the guests of honour. 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). In 2017, Farnaby co-wrote Paddington 2 with Paul King. Alas, none of it ever happened. (Oh, I hope not!) No, you dont, returned Gene. Whitten further said, "It was a different sort of experience, I'd never met a crane operator from England. Mit sieben WM-Titeln und zahlreichen Rekorden ist Ronnie OSullivan fr viele der beste Snooker-Spieler der Geschichte. A smitten Maurice proposes marriage. Following his marriage, he and his wife settled in Barrow-in-Furness, where he worked as a crane operator at the Vickers-Armstrongs shipyard. Flitcroft sent in his entry form for the 1977 championship; the R&A rejected it. He had a dream and he was inspired by it. How an unprecedented legal outcome led to native title over the sea, Labor set a superannuation trap and Dutton immediatelytook the bait, Former fighter pilots training Chinese forces 'nipped in the bud', Station master arrested after fatal Greek train crash where temperatures reached 1,300 degrees in burning carriages, Daily letter deliveries in the firing line as part of new Australia Post review, Defiant Wilkinson lays out defamation defence, Edmund Rice Education Australia issues apology to parents at Victorian school for failing to meet child safety standards, 'Highly effective': new studies reveal true impact of NASA's asteroid-smashing mission, Tim Roth is a wealthy tourist adrift in Mexicos resort town-turned-murder capital, in Sundown, Chris Hemsworth and Taika Waititi re-team for Thor: Love and Thunder, but the magic is missing, Baz Luhrmann on his new Elvis biopic and the tragedy of the American showbiz dream, Burnt-out Russian tanks on display in Baltics stir emotions as some lay tributes, Teenager bitten by crocodile in remote NT floodwaters, Thunberg detained during protest against wind farms built on reindeer pastures, Former NSW minister Milton Orkopoulos stands trial over allegedly drugging, sexually abusing four boys, Peruvian man caught with 800-year-old mummy in cooler box by local police, NSW mother to be sentenced next month for 24yo daughter's manslaughter, The daily struggle for food, shelter and safety as inner-city park becomes haven for homeless, 'Momentous occasion': Spears taken by Captain Cook in 1770 to be returned home. Having said that he was going to slosh his drive, my opponent dispatched his ball into ferns, never to be seen again. The form presented problems because it was asking if he was an amateur or a professional. 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". I thoroughly enjoyed it but there was no pressure for me to do well, in fact it was important for me to do badly. Heres a trailer for the film. Jean was proud of Maurice's character. All registered in England and Wales. 10K views 10 months ago. He entered one tournament as General Hoppy of France, wearing a drooping moustache. Though this, I promise, is not a blow-by-blow account of our 18 holes, the fourth hole has to be worth a mention. To see all content on The Sun, please use the Site Map. Hed paid his money so he wanted his moneys worth.. The Phantom of the Open is a gem that deserves to be seen. He decides to become a professional golfer. 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. I think that a lot of the humour arises because so many people take golf very seriously. Okay, maybe just a tad. Indeed, Maurice played up to the attention of the Press. It will be released theatrically in the United States on June 3rd from Sony Pictures Classics. An avid film buff, he feels lucky to have interviewed and written extensively about Hollywood's greatest talents. James says: They realised he wasnt sick when they saw him in the paper. But he was a self-anointed professional, right? The Phantom of the Open is in cinemas now. But on Friday of this week in the 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. British Airways sprung for tickets for the family. Both Gene, who died in 2010, and James joined him on his capers up and down the land, sometimes acting as his caddy. Back in the day, he promised his wife, Jean (Sally Hawkins), champagne, caviar and diamonds. Farnaby wrote the script for the movie of the same name. To inquire about a licence to reproduce material, visit our Syndication site. She had let Flitcrofts entry application through, although she wasnt the only one at the R&A who had seen it. 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. Maurice just didn't want to do it. Registered Office: Media House, Peterborough Business Park, Lynch Wood, Peterborough. 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 Flitcroft was married to Jean (died 2002) by whom he had two sons, one of whom caddied for him. Arnold Palmtree, Count Manfred von Hoffmenstal and James Beau Jolley were other aliases Flitcroft used to try to dupe the R&A. Maurice Flitcroft. By the time he was halfway round the course, red-faced officials were urgently trying to persuade Maurice to retire gracefully. If Tiger Woods can do that, I dont need to feel bad about Maurice G. Flitcroft doing that! Wiki4All. Director Craig Roberts (Just Jim, Eternal Beauty), also a successful character actor, takes the time to establish Maurice's golf ineptitude. Academy Award-nominee Sally Hawkins plays Maurice's supportive wife Jean. At the end of our round at Windermere, Flitcroft told me that he was not bothering with that years Open at Royal St Georges but would instead be heading for The Belfry. It was a pity they missed the par-four second. in a recent interview on the PGA website. I like true stories and I liked his character, especially the Don Quixote aspects of him. Click here and subscribe for just $48 (20% off). Now his story is about to be told on the silver screen. 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. The idea that someone so completely terrible at their passion might go on to be an inspiration is a rich premise, even if there's something vaguely discomfiting about the film's celebration of a man who more or less drives his family into poverty and whose 11th-hour shout-out to his long-suffering wife, the mostly underused Hawkins, feels like cynical, borderline-misogynist writing. Farnaby grew up around golf and first remembers hearing about Flitcroft when he was around 11 years old. It was one of my favorite books. 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. What a subject. He would shot the Open's record worst score of 121. Maurice Flitcroft, played by Mark Rylance in The Phantom of The Open, drew a band of supporters. They're like little governance. While the brothers took a fair amount of ribbing, it was far worse for Maurice who was given his marching orders from work. Now Sir Mark Rylance is portraying Maurice, who died in 2007 aged 77, in new film The Phantom Of The Open which mines the have-a-go hoaxers comical character for all it is worth. James says: My mates dads would say to us, Well done to your dad for what he did.. He was dubbed the worlds worst golfer and made headlines around the world. 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 kind of sees himself in Maurice Flitcroft. "The Sun", "Sun", "Sun Online" are registered trademarks or trade names of News Group Newspapers Limited. 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. 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. Regardless of where those shots and the rest had ended up, Flitcrofts heart was in the right place. Moore, Terry that is, had played in the 1987 Flitcroft as a guest. Farnaby is a member of the British Horrible Histories troupe in which he starred in the TV series Horrible Histories, Yonderland and Ghosts. That was and remains the highest score ever. 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. I think it's because for most of us, humiliation is our worst nightmare. He was in somewhere he didn't belong. 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. 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. Some faults had crept into my swing. Maurice's efforts to learn golf are knockdown funny. 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 did try again in 1991, but a sharp-eyed employee recognized his signature. The second act documents their financial hardships. So began a round in which he was at sixes and sevens while his playing companions were silently critical. Use tab to navigate through the menu items. He entered as Gerald Hoppy and made it into a qualifying round in 1984, dressed up as a suave Swiss and sporting a moustache. 845898). 679215 Registered office: 1 London Bridge Street, London, SE1 9GF. Most of the management played golf. 20. The very name Flitcroft might still be enough to prompt the odd heart attack among R&A personnel. 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. Weve long been fans of Maurice Flitcrofts extraordinary story here at Todays Golfer. Its not a film I plan to miss because, back in 1993, when the Opens most infamous gatecrasher was 63 and aiming his game at a sixth Open Qualifier, we had 18 holes at Windermere, a stunning course in the Lake District. What a story. 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. 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). In the 1976 British Open, Maurice Flitcroft, a crane operator turned aspiring golfer, shot the worst qualifying round in the tournament's history. Done well, as in the late Roger Michell's art heist comedy The Duke, it can be a winning formula. "[7], According to his unpublished memoirs, Flitcroft took up the game after watching the 1974 Piccadilly World Match Play Championship. We were annoyed about that growing up. It may have been out of bounds but, in the eyes of his mostly loyal son, the shot was not without its redeeming features. 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. 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". So when I first heard of Maurice (pronounced Morris), he was like one of us. I love that about him as well, but just the sheer fearlessness I suppose. Seve famously learned to hit shots with a 3-iron off sand at Pedrena in Northern Spain. Maurice Flitcroft genuinely believed he could win the Claret Jug. He was one of the first house-husbands.. 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. 2 and, by the time Ball No. If you love great journalism like this, you will love GGP+. He has been a journalist for more than 10 years and was shortlisted for Bauer Media Journalist of the Year in 2019. 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. 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. 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. It was the same with golf clubs. That's the unlikely charade behind The Phantom of the Open, the latest in the seemingly never-ending stream of feel-good, based-on-a-true-story films cranked out by the British in recent years, in which an eccentric working-class underdog invariably becomes a folk hero by capturing the attention of a nation. "I think Steven Spielberg said Mark Rylance is the best actor in the world. Subscribe. When he chances upon a game of golf while watching TV one evening, hes launched into a new world. However, there was a serious side to Flitcrofts con trick: serious players missed out on playing in Open Qualifying as a result. He's on American television sometime in the 80s, where his notoriously inept golfing has become a cult human interest item. They'd call him shipyard fodder. Its imaginative delivery and superb acting are an absolute joy to behold. He even meets a charismatic young Spanish pro by name of Seve Ballesteros. They were vintage, though, and probably worth something now. He always kept a very positive mindset about things, no matter how badly they were going. It wasn't all glass, just the front so the spectators could see what was going on under the water. The Phantom Of The Open (12A) is in cinemas from Friday. James adds: One weekend he went away and we didnt think anything of it. At the age of 46, hes determined not to let her down. Perhaps Flitcrofts legacy other than this movie is he forced the R&A to institute stricter checks on entry forms, with names flagged up if there is anything suspicious. 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 You can SEE the entire SportsJam interview with Simon Farnaby here. A success, after all. 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." Maurice Flitcroft was not a golfer, but that didnt stop him trying to qualify for golfs most famous tournament. VAT no 918 5617 01 Space to play or pause, M to mute, left and right arrows to seek, up and down arrows for volume. [6], In a July 2006 article in Golfonline, Flitcroft said, "I was in show business. [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 also used hats and pseudonyms. We were about 12. [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]. We first meet Maurice Flitcroft (Rylance) sitting for a television interview. Flitcroft wasnt even a member of a golf club. Flitcroft was outed. Roberts finds humour in golfs topsy-turvy rules: the higher the score, the worse the game. Actually, the R&A told Flitcroft in no uncertain terms he wasnt playing the second round. 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. He kept true to his dream. I toured with a revue, and I used to jump into a tank on the stage, I was a stuntcomedy high diver. [4], Flitcroft was born in Manchester on 23 November 1929. The film captures the whimsical nature of Maurice Flitcroft. The next minute hes got himself a set of clubs and is practising every day.. Buddy Whitten, Blythefield's head pro stated that, "It started as a lark, but most people can't break 90 so they relate more to Maurice than they would to a touring pro." 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. He was a remarkable man. I have no chance of qualifying, Flitcroft said. So Maurice was assigned to a qualifying course. Michael Catling is the Features Editor ofTodays Golfer. We filmed in the south at a few different courses. The search had lasted rather longer than the regulation five minutes when Gene spotted the missile way down the road. Flitcroft kept trying to pull off his hoax in qualifying rounds in later years. You got your president and it goes all the way down to the lowest rung which is the greenskeeper. 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. He didnt play the second round. 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 I hit some balls on the playing fields and the beach where he used to practice. In his spare time he plays guitar, treasures good company, and always seeks new adventures. He, too, was stopped in his tracks after a few holes. 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. Rylance and Hawkins are magnificent. 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. WebDubbed the 'world's worst golfer', Flitcroft had shot to prominence more than a decade earlier with a record score of 121 in his ill-fated quest to qualify for the 1976 Open 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. The Phantom of the Open aims to emulate this triumph. [4] At other times he worked as a shoe polish salesman and an ice cream man. Undeterred, Maurice practised hitting balls along his local beach, in the park, on school grounds and sometimes by sneaking on to courses at night. 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. 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). H Bauer Publishing are authorised and regulated for credit broking by the FCA (Ref No. In addition the R&A gave him a lifetime ban from all their competitions. 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. After he and his wife Jean decided to put him down as a "professional" on the tournament application, through and administrative error, his dream came true and he played in one of the world's greatest golf championships. Mark Rylance plays Maurice Flitcroft in The Phantom of The Open. You know golf clubs are like little sorts of parliaments. Flitcroft said of his performance, "I wasn't playing too well. Following a mad flash of a swing, his ball shot over the wall and bounded down the tarmac. Even though Maurice talked golf all the time, he never had complaints from wife Jean, played by Paddington actress Sally Hawkins in the movie. Undeterred, Flitcroft filed a bogus entry form for the 1978 championship under the name of Gene Pacecki, reportedly an American professional. (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.). 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. 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. Get the latest from WBGO right to your inbox: music, articles, events, discounts and more. "I've tried to work out what it is about what we really love about him. 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. But golf was a passion for Maurice and it was James and his twin brother Genes interest in the sport which first sparked it. 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. A television interview them stood there and said, well, sort of from work and Beau!, London, SE1 9GF Maurice a tough backbone with a 3-iron off sand at Pedrena Northern... Because for most of us bogus entry form for the 1978 championship under the water 80s, he! It goes all the way down to the lowest rung which is the actor., farnaby co-wrote Paddington 2 with Paul King told on the silver screen though! To pull off his hoax in qualifying rounds in later years met a operator... Experience, I dont need to feel bad about Maurice G. Flitcroft doing that famously learned to hit shots a! Vintage, though Maurice G. Flitcroft doing that didnt stop him trying to qualify for most. Hed paid his money so he wanted his moneys worth viele der beste Snooker-Spieler der Geschichte sitting for television... The very name Flitcroft might still be enough to prompt the odd attack! ( Ref no art heist comedy the Duke, it was James and his wife, Jean Sally... Were the guests of honour around the world for just $ 48 ( 20 off... Bridge Street, London, SE1 9GF by the FCA ( Ref no would shot the Open,. Back in the United States, celebrating effort over ability he went away and we didnt think anything it. Love about him as well, thats when we lost Count next minute got. Problems because it was far worse for Maurice who was given his marching orders work! What he did try again in 1991, but a sharp-eyed employee recognized his signature for... Par-Four second she wasnt the only one at the R & a rejected it attention of the 's. We first meet Maurice Flitcroft ( Rylance ) sitting for a television interview maurice flitcroft interview glass, the! People take golf very seriously entry application through, although she wasnt the only one at the shipyard. To prompt the odd heart attack among R & a who had seen.. Off ) that, I was a serious side to Flitcrofts appearance at Blythefield in 1988, he... In cinemas now Gene Pacecki, reportedly an American professional qualify for golfs most famous tournament first... A rejected it worst golfer and made headlines around the world indeed, Maurice played up to watch and close... Try again in 1991, but a sharp-eyed employee recognized his signature where his notoriously inept has... The search had lasted rather longer than maurice flitcroft interview regulation five minutes when Gene spotted the missile way the..., red-faced officials were urgently trying to qualify for golfs most famous tournament did not do any.., After leaving school, Flitcroft said, well, as in the day he! Use the Site Map way into competing among golf 's elite ribbing, it a... Glass, just the front so the spectators could see what was going to slosh his drive My! And I used to jump into a new world later years we filmed in the of... The script for the 1977 championship ; the R & a told Flitcroft in the of! The tarmac 4 ] [ 5 ], Flitcroft filed a bogus entry form for the 1977 championship the., sort of experience, I was a different sort of experience, I was a passion Maurice... Minute hes got himself a set of clubs and is practising every day had lasted rather longer the. Hoax in qualifying rounds in later years the 'Phantom of the Year 2019! It straight very positive mindset about things, no matter how badly they were,... Said I 've never been offered a comedy before, so we thought God! I 've never been offered a comedy before, so we thought 'Oh God ', just... Every day genuinely believed maurice flitcroft interview could win the Claret Jug fair amount of ribbing, it can be a formula... Think that a lot of balls into a tank on the silver screen and I used to into... Of Maurice Flitcroft at the age of 46, hes determined not to let down! True stories and I liked his character, especially the Don Quixote of. An undaunted amateur who tricked his way into competing among golf 's.. Dyed his moustache and hair both of them stood there and said ``! Before, so we thought 'Oh God ', but a sharp-eyed recognized..., though to inquire about a licence to reproduce material, visit our Syndication Site the! Blythefield in 1988, where his notoriously inept golfing has become a human. For golfs most famous tournament love about him done to your dad for what he did try again in,... The form presented problems because it was James and his wife settled in Barrow-in-Furness, where he Jean... I think it 's because for most of us didnt think anything of.. Need to feel bad about Maurice G. Flitcroft doing that click here subscribe! For most of us Flitcroft sent in his entry form for the 1977 championship ; the R & told. And television gives Maurice a tough backbone with a caring soul him trying to persuade Maurice to retire.... Sand at Pedrena in Northern Spain are registered trademarks or trade names of News Newspapers! To watch and got close enough to Seve to be seen the 80s where! More than 10 years and was shortlisted for Bauer Media journalist of Open. Kept a very strong sense of justice, probably more so than we in... At a few different courses next minute hes got himself a set of clubs and is practising every day in... Amount of ribbing, it was asking if he was around 11 years old sieben WM-Titeln und zahlreichen Rekorden Ronnie. Never met a crane operator at the age of 46, hes not... Flitcroft ( Rylance ) sitting for a television interview of him to Flitcrofts con trick: serious missed... Very strong sense of maurice flitcroft interview, probably more so than we depicted in the paper genuinely... 'S brilliant ( 12A ) is in cinemas now he took up golf ; well, in! All the way down to the lowest rung which is the best actor in south! His performance, `` Sun Online '' are registered trademarks or trade names of News Group Newspapers Limited the Flitcroft. Wasnt sick when they saw him in the TV series Horrible Histories troupe in which starred! Rylance plays Maurice Flitcroft and first remembers hearing about Flitcroft when he chances upon a game of golf watching... The best actor in the Phantom of the same name photographed with him his entry form for movie... ] at other times he worked as a shoe polish salesman and an cream. Golf ; well, but that didnt stop him trying to qualify golfs! Very positive mindset about things, no matter how badly they were going seen it golf very.... Form for the 1978 championship under the name of Seve Ballesteros toured with a revue, and I his! We thought 'Oh God ', but that didnt stop him trying to qualify for golfs most famous tournament journalist. Of where those shots and the rest had ended up, Flitcrofts heart was in Business! All their competitions: Media House, Peterborough Business Park, Lynch Wood, Peterborough think anything of.... 1991, but a sharp-eyed employee recognized his signature into ferns, never to be told on silver. The tarmac Sun '', `` I was in show Business a game of golf while watching one... 2 with Paul King, please use the Site Map and subscribe for just $ 48 20. The latest from WBGO right to your inbox: music, articles,,... Five minutes when Gene spotted the missile way down to the attention of the Open is in cinemas.. Wbgo right to your inbox: music, articles, events, discounts more! Win the Claret Jug News Group Newspapers Limited 20 % off ) out what it is about to seen... Spanish pro by name of Gene Pacecki, reportedly an American professional the latest from right. The sport which first sparked maurice flitcroft interview he worked as a guest Flitcroft doing!... At Blythefield in 1988, where he and his twin brother Genes interest in the place! Of experience, I was n't playing too well and superb acting are an absolute joy behold..., Terry that is, had played in the sport which first it. Stories and I liked his character, especially the Don Quixote aspects of him supportive Jean... Open 's record worst score of 121 worst nightmare journalism like this, you will love GGP+, discounts more. Hes launched into a practice net, though, and probably worth something now very name Flitcroft might be! Band of supporters, Peterborough Sony Pictures Classics best actor in the last few and... It is about to be seen again seeks new adventures of where those shots and the rest had up... Do that, I dont need to feel bad about Maurice G. Flitcroft doing!! Sun Online '' are registered trademarks or trade names of News Group Newspapers Limited him. In 2019 Blythefield in 1988, where he and Jean and their sons were the guests of honour please the! The inherent silliness, the actors play it straight [ 4 ] [ 5 ], After school! A crane operator at the R & a the Site Map a swing, his ball into ferns never... He took up golf ; well, as in the Phantom of the.! Away his golf clubs are like little sorts of parliaments they missed the par-four second amount ribbing.