Description

Book Synopsis

The hilarious, heartwarming and - unbelievably - true story of Maurice Flitcroft, the World's Worst Golfer

'The story of its greatest anti-hero is just what the game needs' Spectator

When 46-year-old crane driver Maurice Flitcroft chanced his way into the Open - having never before played a round of golf in his life - he ran up a record-worst score of 121. The sport's ruling classes banned him for life.

Maurice didn't take it lying down. In a hilarious game of cat-and-mouse with The Man, he entered tournaments again - and again, and again - using increasingly ludicrous pseudonyms such as Gene Pacecki, Arnold Palmtree and Count Manfred von Hoffmanstel (more often than not disguised by a fake moustache).

In doing so, he sent the authorities into apoplexy, and won the hearts of fans from Muirfield to Michigan, becoming arguably the most popular - and certainly the bravest - sporting underdog the world has ever known

'Hilarious' Esquire



Trade Review
Hilarious—Esquire

The story of its greatest anti-hero is just what the game needs.—Spectator

The Phantom of the Open: Maurice Flitcroft, the

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    A Paperback / softback by Scott Murray, Simon Farnaby, Simon Farnaby

    £8.54

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    RRP £8.99 – you save £0.45 (5%)

    Order before 4pm tomorrow for delivery by Wed 26 Aug 2026.

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      Book details

      Publisher Penguin Random House Group
      Imprint Vintage
      Published 17 March 2022
      ISBN-13 9781529195859
      978-1529195859
      ISBN-10 1529195853
      Also in:
      Biography Biography: sport Sport Golf History of sport

      Description

      Book Synopsis

      The hilarious, heartwarming and - unbelievably - true story of Maurice Flitcroft, the World's Worst Golfer

      'The story of its greatest anti-hero is just what the game needs' Spectator

      When 46-year-old crane driver Maurice Flitcroft chanced his way into the Open - having never before played a round of golf in his life - he ran up a record-worst score of 121. The sport's ruling classes banned him for life.

      Maurice didn't take it lying down. In a hilarious game of cat-and-mouse with The Man, he entered tournaments again - and again, and again - using increasingly ludicrous pseudonyms such as Gene Pacecki, Arnold Palmtree and Count Manfred von Hoffmanstel (more often than not disguised by a fake moustache).

      In doing so, he sent the authorities into apoplexy, and won the hearts of fans from Muirfield to Michigan, becoming arguably the most popular - and certainly the bravest - sporting underdog the world has ever known

      'Hilarious' Esquire



      Trade Review
      Hilarious—Esquire

      The story of its greatest anti-hero is just what the game needs.—Spectator

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