‘Phantom of the Open’ Filmmakers on Sneaking a Secret ‘Superman’ Theme Into Story of the World’s Worst Golfer

Carson Burton The formula for many sports movies is classically simple yet satisfying. Step one: introduce an underdog. Step two: training montage.

Step three: win the trophy. It’s a successful formula that has been used for decades. For “The Phantom of the Open” director Craig Roberts and screenwriter Simon Farnaby, though, they’re not interested in following that pattern.“As a sports movie, it doesn’t work,” Farnaby told Variety. “Because usually you’re getting an underdog and then they’re good at the end.

But the trophy Maurice gets is very different. He didn’t win the British Open, but he won the hearts and minds of people all over the world.”“The Phantom of the Open,” which premieres June 3 in the U.S., follows the true story of Maurice Flitcroft, a shipyard worker in England turned golf folk hero. Flitcroft, who had never played a round of golf in his life, made history in the 1976 British Open for shooting the worst score ever recorded: 121, 49 shots over par (that number may even be too low — a question mark is labeled on the scorecard next to hole seven).

The film follows Flitcroft as he repeatedly deceives his way into the tournament in order to follow his newfound dream of being a professional golfer. The filmmakers aren’t so sold on the idea that this is a film about golf, though. “For me, it’s about changing the definition of success,” Roberts explained.

“I think that, as a society, we think it’s about being number one. But [Maurice] was very successful. He was very successful because he was doing what made him happy.”Variety spoke with Roberts and Farnaby about their experience in taking Flitcroft’s story to the big screen, how they think Flitcroft is essentially Kanye West, their thoughts on a sports