The miracle of Maurice Flitcroft is as crazy as it is true.
The power of discovering a passion and taking it somewhere nobody could possibly imagine.
Except Maurice.
Let me give you some context: 1974. A crane operator in a shipbuilding town in England. 45 years old. Has never played golf.
Never. Doesn't even care about it.
Then one day, the family buys a color television. Maurice tunes in to The Open Championship and experiences a full-blown Stendhal moment. The man becomes so fascinated by this game played on perfectly green fields that he says to himself:
"I'm going to do that."
So he buys a second-hand set of clubs and borrows a golf instruction book from the local library. He practices on the beach, hitting from coarse sand and rocks. In his garden. At night, on school football fields.
- Just two years later, he fills out an entry form for The Open Championship qualifying. And since he can't provide a handicap certificate or membership at any golf club... He checks the box marked:
"Professional." Hahahaha.
The funny thing is... Nobody verifies it. And he's accepted into the qualifying round at Formby.
His opening shot barely travels a few yards before disappearing into a bunker. His worn-out canvas golf bag is carried by a friend acting as his caddie. A friend who happens to be completely drunk.
Tournament officials start getting suspicious of a man who needs so many shots to finish a hole...
The spectators don't know whether to laugh or cry. Many think it's some kind of prank. Maurice finishes with 121 strokes.
The worst score ever recorded in Open Championship qualifying.
But Maurice wasn't done. Not even close.
Despite being banned for life from events run by the golf federation. The public and the newspapers loved this working-class hero who challenged golf's supposed elitism.
So good old Maurice starts using fake identities and disguises. And somehow manages to sneak into Open qualifying events another five times.
Every time they recognized him, officials would chase him across the course and throw him out.
Personally, I think Maurice eventually became more motivated by beating the security checks than by actually competing. The whole story eventually became a movie: The Phantom of the Open.
Have a great weekend, golfer! Whatever you're doing, enjoy it.
P.S. If you don't want to be as lost on a golf course as Maurice was, give LAZAR a try.