By Jeffrey Catalano
Assistant Editor
On Friday, February 27, as part of its “Friday Flicks” series, the Mayerson JCC will be showing the 2025 comedy sports film, “The Phantom of the Open,” on the big screen at the J. The screening will last from approximately 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m.
“The Phantom of the Open” stars Mark Rylance as real life British golfer, Maurice Flitcroft, and the film is based on a published biography of the golfer. Flitcroft qualified for the British Open Golf Championship in 1976 only to go on to hold the worst round in Open history. He scored a miserable 49-over-par 121.
It should be noted that Flitcroft wasn’t the most esteemed golfer when he entered the British Open Golf Championship. He was actually a shipyard crane operator by day and a novice golfer at best. He somehow coaxed his way into the prestigious golfing tournament, which led to him receiving a lifetime ban from the sport. Some went so far as to dub him the “world’s worst golfer” after his performance at the Open.
Despite (or because) of his notoriety, Flitcroft became a folk hero to the British public, and “The Phantom at the Open” explores how a man who became known as the worst golfer ever rose to prominence. The film boasts an incredible cast that includes the Oscar-winning Mark Rylance and Sally Hawkins.
