This New Golf Movie Breaks the Mold (And It's Actually Good)

Phantom of the Open is in U.S. theaters now, and it's a tragi-comedy that golf fans and casual movie-goers can get behind.

Michael Williams | Aug 10, 2022

This New Golf Movie Breaks the Mold (And It's Actually Good) /

There is a long list of movies that have been done where golf is a central theme. The list of quality movies in that genre is considerably shorter. There are a couple of golf comedies that generate a large audience; Caddyshack and Tin Cup probably foremost among them.

For golf movies with a more serious story line, making a quality film is harder than hitting a 1-iron in cold weather. But a new film breaks that mold. Phantom of the Open, starring Academy Award-winning actor Mark Rylance is a new release that tells the story of Maurice Flitcroft, a humble crane operator from the north of England whose first encounter with golf inspired him to enter the British Open. The results are the very definition of tragic-comic, with Flitcroft posting a score that looked more like the high temperature in Death Valley.

Undaunted, Flitcroft endures the jeers of the golf establishment, fans and even his own family to continue express his love for the game through competition. Writer Simon Farnaby says that the story is appealing because it isn’t really a story about golf. “Maurice Flitcroft was thought to be kind of a clown. But he was actually an intelligent, well-read man. He loved his family and he loved golf, and the movie is about his two loves.”

Phantom has opened to broad critical appeal and will be in wide release in the United States this summer. It is a heart-warming story about a man who’s love for golf is equal parts pure and relentless. His game is rank amateur, but his spirit is Hall of Fame.

Hit the play button to listen to the episode, and look for more from the 19th hole with Michael Williams coming soon.

Published Aug 10, 2022

MICHAEL WILLIAMS

Born in Washington, DC, Michael Williams has lived in or visited over 40 countries, but he has a special appreciation for his native city. A graduate of The Sidwell Friends School and the first African American male to attend the prestigious school from Kindergarten through High School, Mr. Williams attended the University of Maryland at College Park where he majored in English Literature. Williams has had success in industries ranging from high tech companies to foreign exchange banking. But his life has been defined by his abilities in the media and communications, for his experience in world affairs and his passion for the game of golf. He has established himself as a leading voice for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion. His “Open Letter to the Golf Industry from a Black Man Who Loves the Game” became a template that inspired the leadership of the game to implement long-needed change. In addition, Williams’ article for ESPN about his handling of a PGA Tour professional who admitted to dressing up in blackface garnered praise from around the world and was recently recognized as one of the best articles of 2020 by the Golf Writers Association of America. Williams has also contributed to a wide range of charitable organizations, including The First Tee of Greater Washington, DC. and the Eisenhower Memorial Commission, which was authorized by The White House and Congress to establish the Memorial to the President Eisenhower. Mr. Williams is a member of the United States Golf Association, the Golf Writers Association of America and the National Association of Black Journalists.