Maurice Flitcroft, a crane operator from Barrow-in-Furness with no prior golf experience, managed to deceive officials and secure a place in the qualifying round of the 1976 Open Championship at Formby Golf Club. His improbable entry led to a disastrous round and a lifetime ban from the tournament.
The Con: Posing as a Professional
Flitcroft took up golf after watching the 1974 Piccadilly World Match Play Championship. He bought a set of clubs via mail order and studied instructions from a former PGA champion, practicing in fields near his home. Inspired by Walter Dandecki, a Milwaukee postal worker who entered the 1965 Open by claiming professional status, Flitcroft decided to try the same trick. Since amateurs required an official handicap, he declared himself a professional to secure his spot.
The Infamous Round
During the pre-qualifying round at Formby, Flitcroft carded a 49-over-par 121, the worst score in the tournament's history. His playing partners, suspicious from the start, complained to Royal and Ancient officials and received refunds. Flitcroft later held a bizarre press conference, stating he hadn't played practice rounds because he needed rest more than training.
Aftermath and Legacy
Following the 1976 Open, the rules were tightened, and Flitcroft was banned for life. Undeterred, he attempted to re-enter using disguises and pseudonyms such as Gene Paceky, James Beau Jolley, Arnold Palmtree, and Count Manfred von Hoffmanstel. He died of a lung infection on March 24, 2007, at age 77. The Daily Telegraph noted his persistence caused "sense of humour failure" among golf officials. In 2021, the film The Phantom of the Open, starring Mark Rylance, was released, based on Simon Farnaby's book about Flitcroft.
