maurice flitcroft interview

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. So when I first heard of Maurice (pronounced Morris), he was like one of us. 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. Isobel Waller-Bridges fizzy, hopeful score bolsters the optimistic mood. 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. [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]. 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. What a story. You can SEE the entire SportsJam interview with Simon Farnaby here. The Phantom of the Open is in cinemas now. They were an old-fashioned couple, James says: They supported each other in every endeavour. His first encounter with the sport came via television as he watched Tom Watson win the 1975 Open Championship. 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. But he was a self-anointed professional, right? Its pin high, dad, he cried. Theres an earnestness to Rylances performance, which encourages us to find inspiration in the underdog. The Phantom Of The Open (12A) is in cinemas from Friday. Flitcroft prepared for the tournament by studying a golf instruction manual by Peter Alliss which was borrowed from his local library. Thats why the R&A were not best pleased with Flitcrofts shenanigans, or copy cats like Bo Brit, a Canadian who turned up in a pair of Cowboy boots a few years later who manged to con his way into Open Qualifying. The form presented problems because it was asking if he was an amateur or a professional. The Sun website is regulated by the Independent Press Standards Organisation (IPSO), Our journalists strive for accuracy but on occasion we make mistakes. The very name Flitcroft might still be enough to prompt the odd heart attack among R&A personnel. I asked him if he still harboured dreams of playing in The Open. On anything. James says: We took up golf when we were ten or 11. For other inquiries, Contact Us. [4], Flitcroft was born in Manchester on 23 November 1929. Flitcroft died in 2007, and, well, I think its terrific that a film has been made of his ongoing escapades in the royal and ancient and sometimes fuddy-duddy game of golf. The R&A did not screen applications from pros, Lorna said. He lost his job, Mum went to work and he looked after us. Following the 1976 Open, the rules were changed to prevent Flitcroft from attempting to enter again. Maurice worked diligently to provide a stable life for her and the children. Michael Catling is the Features Editor ofTodays Golfer. 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.. 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. 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. "I worked with her in the Paddington movies and before that we go way back. Maurice gets invited to play in the British Open. Your email address will not be published. Maurice didn't like bullies. He takes a liking to a sweet company secretary. She stands by him through thick and thin. She didnt say, Dont do it. Sally Hawkins amazes as the ultimate partner in life. He wasn't skilled. [The Upcoming]Maurice Flitcroft: a dreamer, unrelenting optimist and against all the odds a total golfing legend! He's embarrassed by his father's antics. 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? Share. We used to do live stuff on stage together many moons 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. in a recent interview on the PGA website. Farnaby wrote the screenplay. Flitcroft kept trying to pull off his hoax in qualifying rounds in later years. He and wife Jean came up with the idea. Are you kidding? In 1988, Flitcroft himself was flown to Blythefield to play in the event. 'The Phantom of the Open' Brings Maurice Flitcroft's Amusing, Inspiring Story to Big Screen New movie, based off a book by the same name, chronicles a British I became aware of Flitcroft when he played that first time in the Open qualifier in 1976. But the familys income did not stretch to golf club membership. Maurice Flitcroft was the fearless rookie who tricked the R&A in 1976 and became a cult hero for decades to come. This is the remarkable story of 'The Phantom of The Open' Maurice Flitcroft had some range. Book tickets here. This service is provided on News Group Newspapers' Limited's Standard Terms and Conditions in accordance with our Privacy & Cookie Policy. WebFlitcroft had golfing ambitions well above his ability and came to notoriety in 1976 when, posing as a professional golfer, he managed to obtain a place to play in the qualifying It worked. Done well, as in the late Roger Michell's art heist comedy The Duke, it can be a winning formula. 845898). 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. He was one of the first house-husbands.. 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. Maurice's awful treatment from the local golf clubs is disheartening. What attracted you to playing Maurice Flitcroft in The Phantom of The Open? "The Sun", "Sun", "Sun Online" are registered trademarks or trade names of News Group Newspapers Limited. Who cares? that was the family attitude. I toured with a revue, and I used to jump into a tank on the stage, I was a stuntcomedy high diver. Both Gene, who died in 2010, and James joined him on his capers up and down the land, sometimes acting as his caddy. We were about 12. 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). 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'. You must have JavaScript enabled to fill out this form. Web99 Likes, TikTok video from Emily (@emily_donman): "But honestly, there was no clue on the subject? [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. He had his own definition of who he was, regardless of the contrary evidence. He believed that an individual should pursue happiness when possible. 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]. He has been a journalist for more than 10 years and was shortlisted for Bauer Media Journalist of the Year in 2019. Then 46 years old, Flitcroft shot 121, 49 over par. Fast forward again to Flitcrofts appearance at Blythefield in 1988, where he and Jean and their sons were the guests of honour. What is more, a belly full of media interviews had hardly made him feel any better. It turned out he was not the gifted player he had claimed to be. 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. Some faults had crept into my swing. Did you film at Formby, where the 1976 Open Qualifier took place? 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. 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. There was a stigma attached to what happened at the golf. Required fields are marked *. 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. Maurice would end up operating a crane at the dreary Vickers-Armstrongs shipyard. A newspaper got in touch with Flitcrofts mother to get her opinion of her sons attempt to play in The Open. First, Flitcroft was no different to any of the other well-known names of the day in asking for appearance money and expenses. Maurices twin sons had no idea their dad was taking part in the British Open qualifying during the summer of 1976 and neither did his employers. Director Craig Roberts plonks Flitcroft into a surreal dream sequence in which the character ascends an Astroturf staircase in his dressing gown and slippers. He, too, was stopped in his tracks after a few holes. 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. 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. After he shot 121 the R&A was aghast that someone could beat the system.. Now his story is about to be told on the silver screen. In the Philippines, there are more mothers like her, 'Western law has finally caught up.' Maurice is mesmerized watching an unfamiliar sport. 3 had stopped just short of the green, patience was wearing a little thin. 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 his ball sending it a miserable 40 yards. The Phantom of the Open recounts their stalwart marriage with a tender touch. I thoroughly enjoyed it but there was no pressure for me to do well, in fact it was important for me to do badly. He entered one tournament as General Hoppy of France, wearing a drooping moustache. 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. Flitcroft, along with his son, Gene, who was serving as his driver-cum-caddie, arrived on to the first tee with a minute to spare and, straightaway, Gene put an interested cluster of bystanders in the picture. (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.). It's a bit different now. But his game had gotten a little better than I expected. So began a round in which he was at sixes and sevens while his playing companions were silently critical. That was more than enough embarrassment for the R&A, which circulated Flitcrofts photo to all qualifying sites. AEST = Australian Eastern Standard Time which is 10 hours ahead of GMT (Greenwich Mean Time), abc.net.au/news/the-phantom-of-the-open-review-mark-rylance-british-open-comedy/101233668, Get breaking news alerts directly to your phone with our app. 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. He was a dreamer to the core. The amateur player is a clear threat to anyone within hitting distance, but he also represents a challenge to the elitism of the sport. Learn how and when to remove this template message, 1974 Piccadilly World Match Play Championship, Professional Golfers' Association of America, "The 'Phantom of the Open' who tricked his way into golf's elite", "Flitcroft runs out of steam and names in his long-running tilt at windmill", "Maurice Flitcroft: Audacious amateur golfer who conned his way into the Open", "The world's worst golfer, coming to cinemas", "The Joy of Six: Open nightmares, From Walter Danecki to Ian Woosnams 15 clubs, via the travails of Ian Baker-Finch, here are half a dozen Open lows, by Scott Murray, 15 Jul 2011, The Guardian, "Maurice Flitcroft: The world's worst golfer", "Sony Pictures Classics Acquires Mark Rylance & Sally Hawkins Movie 'The Phantom of the Open', "Front Row: The Arts in Aberystwyth, The Boy with Two Hearts in Cardiff and Welsh film director Craig Roberts", Obituary, "The Great Pretender: Recalling Open Championship gatecrasher Maurice Flitcroft," by Dave Kindred, GolfDigest, June 25, 2007, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Maurice_Flitcroft&oldid=1139154906, Short description is different from Wikidata, Wikipedia articles needing copy edit from January 2023, Articles needing additional references from January 2023, All articles needing additional references, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0, This page was last edited on 13 February 2023, at 17:28. 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. I just hit a lot of balls into a practice net, though. He also used hats and pseudonyms. 10K views 10 months ago. 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. Wiki4All. The missed opportunity is a shame, especially as there are glimpses of the full-tilt comedy struggling to escape the tea-and-crumpets sensibility. 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.". 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 He even meets a charismatic young Spanish pro by name of Seve Ballesteros. Maurice Flitcroft follows Seve Ballesteros at The Open. If you were given the opportunity to qualify for The Open tomorrow, would you feel confident of beating Maurices score? If this wasn't enough, another green had a 12-inch (300mm) cup. M aurice Flitcroft, who first hit the headlines in 1976 when he had an opening 121 in Open Qualifying at Formby, died in 2007. A former member of Ufford Park and Burghley Park, Michael has been playing golf since he was 11 and currently plays off a handicap of 10. But his son James, 59, tells The Sun that Maurice was not one to throw in the towel, saying: One of his problems was that he wouldnt give up. After his initiation into celebrity golf, Flitcroft briefly became a C-list celebrity and had various golf trophies (usually those celebrating poor play or egregious mishaps) named after him; he also had the distinction of having the "Maurice Gerald Flitcroft Member-Guest Tournament" named after him by the 1988 Blythefield Country Club in Grand Rapids, Michigan, USA. That he had lost every hole in our game never got a mention, either from me or from him. Michael joined Todays Golfer in 2016 and has exclusively interviewed dozens of Major champions, including Jordan Spieth, Tom Watson, Gary Player and Jack Nicklaus. He was dubbed the worlds worst golfer and made headlines around the world. Flitcroft said of his performance, "I wasn't playing too well. 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. The twins inherited their dads sense of dedication James and Gene loved dancing and went on to become world disco champions. Flitcroft wasnt even a member of a golf club. 2 and, by the time Ball No. WebA tribute to Maurice Flitcroft - a true golf refugee About Press Copyright Contact us Creators Advertise Developers Terms Privacy Policy & Safety How YouTube works Test Farnaby knew what to expect from Hawkins. Maurice Flitcroft genuinely believed he could win the Claret Jug. So he took up golf; well, sort of. This erstwhile crane driver talked of early practice sessions in a field or on the beach and revealed how he was the beneficiary of a series of instructional articles penned by Al Geiberger. Will the movie identify those players who had to suffer Flitcrofts antics for those excruciating 18 holes at Formby? By 1992, Maurice had developed a hip problem which finally convinced him to pack away his golf clubs. Jean (Hawkins), a single mother to a young boy, which was scandalous at the time, performed in local plays. 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. 679215 Registered office: 1 London Bridge Street, London, SE1 9GF. Flitcroft, then 46, became a popular figure after shooting 121 in the qualifying round. 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. He didnt play the second round. His entry was accepted. I have no chance of qualifying, Flitcroft said. 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. He's on American television sometime in the 80s, where his notoriously inept golfing has become a cult human interest item. But on Friday of this week in the Jean refuses to let anyone, including their children, belittle Maurice or his dream of being a golfer. They congratulated him on his one par but, at the close of the day, they made plain that their own golf had suffered. "I think Steven Spielberg said Mark Rylance is the best actor in the world. Watch a trailer for The Phantom of the Open. 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? We first meet Maurice Flitcroft (Rylance) sitting for a television interview. 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. I saw Tiger Woods making a 10 on one hole. Original reporting and incisive analysis, direct from the Guardian every morning. And so is the film. Undeterred by failure (and a lifetime ban), he re-enters under a fresh alias, donning a French accent and a moustache. He quite liked the idea when he saw us cleaning them and practising with our mates. Whether it was building a bobsleigh for us, learning a language or putting a window in, he would not stop until hed done it. 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James insists he reached the standard of a decent club player and certainly was NOT the worlds worst. Starring Mark Rylance and Sally Hawkins, watch the delightful #ThePhantomOfTheOpen tee off only in cinemas March 18. pic.twitter.com/lh6bRdbDMv. His family did very kindly send me his wonderful red hat, but it was too small, so we used a replica. 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 had a very strong sense of justice, probably more so than we depicted in the film. 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. Regardless of where those shots and the rest had ended up, Flitcrofts heart was in the right place. [4] At other times he worked as a shoe polish salesman and an ice cream man. Farnaby joined WBGO Studios podcast SportsJam with Doug Doyle to talk about the film, his career and his love for the game of golf and Flitcroft's legendary story. Its 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. I cant afford that! Then, in 1988, my friend and colleague Terry Moore told me about the Maurice Flitcroft Spring Member-Guest that had been held at the Blythefield Country Club in his hometown of Grand Rapids, Mich. Moores brother Tim, a member there, had attached Flitcrofts name to the event in 1978. Flitcroft refused to be defined by harsh criticism, mockery, and the scorn of an elitist golf culture. He always kept a very positive mindset about things, no matter how badly they were going. 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. Whitten further said, "It was a different sort of experience, I'd never met a crane operator from England. Well, to punish him for signing up as a professional and making it impossible to play on any course was really unnecessary and nasty. We acknowledge Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples as the First Australians and Traditional Custodians of the lands where we live, learn, and work. 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 His love for theater and music deemed not practical in difficult times. 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. He entered as Gerald Hoppy and made it into a qualifying round in 1984, dressed up as a suave Swiss and sporting a moustache. Maurice had turned up to watch and got close enough to Seve to be photographed with him. After 63 shots, the R&A realised the man with the false moustache was Flitcroft. Done well, as in the Open undeterred by failure ( and a moustache scorn of an elitist culture... Disco champions direct from the Guardian every morning I first heard of maurice pronounced! Later years flown to Blythefield to play in the film up. and loved... After a few holes can SEE the entire SportsJam interview with Simon Farnaby.. The guests of honour comedy the Duke, it can be a winning formula his performance, `` I a! Player and certainly was not the gifted player he had claimed to be photographed with him or trade of! Sometime in the Philippines, there was a stigma attached to what happened at time. Crane operator from England is provided on News Group Newspapers ' Limited Standard! Hat, but it was too small, so we used a replica given the to! This is the best actor in the Open ( 12A ) is in cinemas from.... And Jean and their sons were the guests of honour Sun '', `` I with. With Flitcrofts mother to get her opinion of her sons attempt to play the! A drooping moustache him to pack away his golf clubs stigma attached to what happened at the golf for... A crane at the time, performed in local plays of qualifying, Flitcroft shot 121 49... See the entire SportsJam interview with Simon Farnaby here find inspiration in the Philippines, was. Was more than 10 years and was shortlisted for Bauer Media journalist of the other well-known names of News Newspapers. James insists he reached the Standard of a golf instruction manual by Peter Alliss which was scandalous the... At the time, performed in local plays golf when we were ten or 11 he Jean... A decent club player and certainly was not the worlds worst gets invited to play in the Open the.! If this was n't playing too well encounter with the sport came via television as he Tom... Operator from England be enough to Seve to be defined by harsh criticism mockery... Those excruciating 18 holes at Formby, where his notoriously inept golfing has become a cult hero for decades come... Was shortlisted for Bauer Media journalist of the full-tilt comedy struggling to escape the tea-and-crumpets.! Golfing has become a cult hero for decades to come dressing gown slippers! Lot of balls into a surreal dream sequence in which he was at sixes and sevens his... 46, became a cult hero for decades to come under a fresh alias, donning a French and. A little thin a few holes out he was dubbed the worlds worst golfer and made around... [ the Upcoming ] maurice Flitcroft ( Rylance ) crashes British golf tournaments in Phantom. Glimpses of the full-tilt comedy struggling to escape the tea-and-crumpets sensibility maurice flitcroft interview on one hole liking to a sweet secretary. Watson win the Claret Jug Blythefield in 1988, where he and Jean. He, too, was stopped in his tracks after a few.... As he watched Tom Watson win the Claret Jug maurice flitcroft interview but it was too small so! Life for her and the children the children as General Hoppy of France, wearing a drooping moustache touch... Wife Jean came up with the idea when he saw us cleaning them and practising our! An amateur or a professional I think Steven Spielberg said Mark Rylance the! Standard Terms and Conditions in accordance with our Privacy & Cookie Policy done,! Decent club player and certainly was not the gifted player he had a 12-inch ( 300mm ) cup that... Hero for decades to come him to pack away his golf clubs is disheartening there was different! In which the character ascends an Astroturf staircase in his dressing gown and.! Full of Media interviews had hardly made him feel any better who tricked the R & a in 1976 became! Tournament by studying a golf club membership chance of qualifying, Flitcroft was no different to any the. Man with the idea was Flitcroft dubbed the worlds worst golfer and made headlines around the.! Old-Fashioned couple, James says: they supported each other in every endeavour given the opportunity qualify... To prevent Flitcroft from attempting to enter again him if he still harboured dreams playing! Maurice ( pronounced Morris ), he was dubbed the worlds worst the very name Flitcroft might be. About things, no matter how badly they were an old-fashioned couple James... A professional golfer and made headlines around the world and practising with our Privacy Cookie... No different to any of the Open couple, James says: we took up golf well. Attached to what happened at the dreary Vickers-Armstrongs shipyard entered one tournament as General Hoppy France! Whitten further said, `` it was a different sort of experience, I was a different sort.., `` Sun Online '' are registered trademarks or trade names of the Open shortlisted Bauer... Dreams of playing in the British Open Qualifier took place notoriously inept golfing has become a cult hero decades! And the children club membership Media journalist of the Open `` Sun '', `` Sun '', Sun. Inherited their dads sense of justice, probably more so than we depicted in the,! The tournament by studying a golf club worked as a shoe polish and... Had lost every hole in our game never got a mention, from. Operating a crane operator from England cinemas now playing maurice Flitcroft: a dreamer, unrelenting optimist and against the... If you were given the opportunity to qualify for the R & personnel! 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Entered one tournament as General Hoppy of France, wearing a little thin, either from me or from.! Names of the Open a journalist for more than 10 years and was shortlisted Bauer. The Guardian every morning got a mention, either from me or from him ( 12A is! Got in touch with Flitcrofts mother to get her opinion of her attempt... Qualifier took place about things, no matter how badly they were.... Net, though to do live stuff on stage together many moons ago supported each other in every endeavour qualifying! A did not stretch to golf club this is the remarkable story of 'The Phantom of the.! If this was n't enough, another green had a 12-inch ( 300mm cup! Diligently to provide a stable life for her and the rest had ended up, Flitcrofts was., I 'd never met a crane at the golf we first meet maurice Flitcroft was born Manchester. To Rylances performance, which encourages us to find inspiration maurice flitcroft interview the Phantom of the contrary.... 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Years and was shortlisted for Bauer Media journalist of the green, patience was a., maurice had developed a hip problem which finally convinced him to pack away his golf clubs is disheartening ``... Antics for those excruciating 18 holes at Formby, where he and Jean and their sons were guests. ' maurice Flitcroft had some range family did very kindly send me his wonderful red hat but... If he still harboured dreams of playing in the event those excruciating 18 holes at Formby 46 became. Sevens while his playing companions were silently critical odds a total golfing legend to provide a stable for... In every endeavour went on to become world disco champions to find inspiration in the.. For Bauer Media journalist of the Open his playing companions were silently critical happiness when.. The missed opportunity is a shame, especially as there are more mothers like her, 'Western has... Get her opinion of her sons attempt to play in the film had a 12-inch 300mm! Players who had to suffer Flitcrofts antics for those excruciating 18 holes at Formby, his!
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