The Greatest Game Ever Played Page #3

If that offer is still good,

I'd love to take you up on it.

We have to think about that.

- I'm not asking for favors...

- Can you give us a moment?

What about Grove Street?

- [golf club whooshes]

- [applause]

Meet me here, sunup.

You've got some work to do.

Billy, where do we stand?

Cut line's 76.

Six holes to

make up four shots.

[echoing heartbeat]

- [cheering]

- [applause]

What is it?

What's wrong?

- You just made six straight birdies.

- I did?

Congratulations, lad.

You're in the Open.

[chuckles]

Gentlemen?

I want to welcome you all,

professionals and amateurs alike,

to the 18th United States

Open Championship.

Four rounds of golf to be played

over the next two days

to identify the best

player in the world.

Let's give a special welcome

to the British Amateur Champion,

Mr. Wilfred Reid...

...and our famous

professional visitors,

Harry Vardon and Ted Ray.

I'll yield the floor

to our defending champion,

a professional from Philadelphia,

John McDermott.

If you read the papers,

there's a lot of talk

about the great English champions

sailing over here to play in our Open.

As the only born American

to win this cup,

I'd like to say

to you boys, welcome.

- We're happy to have you.

- Hear, hear.

We know Harry Vardon

was winning Opens

back when most of us

were learning our ABC's.

[laughter]

He's a genius in

the history of our game.

Mr. Vardon, I know you won

this baby once before.

I see your name here.

It's a long time ago,

by the look of it.

Well, we hope you boys

have a nice time here in Boston.

Personally, I don't think you will.

I don't care if you whupped us

the last six weeks.

I'm tired of people saying all you

have to do to win is show up!

This time you're not

taking our damn cup back!

Might just have

to kill that one.

- Good luck, sir.

- Thank you, sir.

Billy.

See you first thing

tomorrow morning?

- I can't.

- Well, why not?

This English fella offered me

Well, I can't give you

anything like that.

I'm sorry, Francis.

I've got two kids at home.

Mr. Campbell?

I just lost my caddie.

Do you know somebody?

- Sorry, all the lads are taken.

- What am I supposed to do?

Hitch up your knickers.

You think Vardon and Ray

will take pity because you

carry your own bag?

This is the Open.

Every man for himself.

What am I doing here?

[young man] Hey, Francis!

Jack! What are you doin' here?

Me and Eddie hooked school

to come watch the practice round.

Are you still caddying

out at Franklin Park?

- That's right.

- Any chance you can

carry for me tomorrow?

- In the Open?

- Yeah.

[laughs]

Well, what happened to your guy?

He got a better offer.

Then that guy's

a big, fat jerk! What?

Jack, if you're gonna do this,

you gotta be here

tomorrow at 7:
30 sharp.

Do it!

Can Eddie come too?

Jack, I can't change the rules.

You're only allowed

one man on the bag.

Maybe he could walk

with us and keep score.

We'll figure it out.

- Is that OK with you?

- Sure.

Francis, you got yourself a deal.

That's great, Jack.

That's great.

I'll see ya, Eddie.

[man] I'll get it, Henry!

And what do you want?

I was hopin' to speak

to Sarah. Is she here?

She left for college.

- When, today?

- Yeah.

Give her a message for me.

Who was that, Freddie?

Ah, it was... it was no one.

It was a peddler.

Did you hear about the caddie

playing in the Open?

It should never have happened.

Reflects badly on all concerned.

I say, if he wants

to go out and play

and make a fool of himself again,

so much the better.

- Who are you talking about?

- [mother] It's a club matter.

[Freddie] Caddie Boy.

Ouimet.

Insists he's an amateur.

What is the world coming to?

- [Henry] More bisque, sir?

- Thank you, Henry.

And what kind of pie does

Audrey have for us tonight?

- Huckleberry, sir.

- Ah. Splendid.

Did you think you could

keep it from me?

I didn't try to.

Your name is in the newspaper,

sneaking around behind my back.

No, no, no, Father...

You're going to stop this now.

A man knows his place

and makes his peace with it.

- I can't talk about this.

- Then you listen.

This is for your own good.

I am trying to protect you.

Protect me from what?

Francis, those men don't have

to earn a place in this world.

It's given to them.

We're not those kind of people.

Now, you go tell them

that you can't do this.

It's a mistake.

I won't do that.

You gave me your word.

You gave me your word.

I can't quit now. I'm sorry.

Then so help me,

when this is over,

you find somewhere else to live.

Fine.

Make sure these people

get the etiquette guide.

Most of them have never been

on a golf course before.

God help us.

[Eddie] Mr. Ouimet!

Mr. Ouimet!

Eddie!

Where's Jack?

I tee off in ten minutes.

Truant officer caught him.

He's in school.

- Why aren't you with him?

- Come on! This is the U.S. Open.

Thanks for coming to tell me.

Mr. Ouimet,

I can caddie for you.

[chuckles] Eddie, my bag

is as big as you are.

But I can do it!

I carry for lots of fellas

at Franklin Park. Ask 'em.

I came to make good

on what Jack promised.

I hooked school, took three

streetcars and I am big enough!

I'm in 5th grade,

and I want to caddie for you!

Calm down for a second.

How about this? I'll carry my bag,

and you walk next to me.

- No, Mr. Ouimet!

- Call me Francis.

- I can do it, Mr. Ouimet.

- Francis.

I know your game.

I've seen you play.

- I can carry that bag!

- All right. All right.

You can caddie for me. OK? But you're

gonna have to call me Francis.

- OK, Francis.

- All right.

[laughter]

You got a problem?

[man] This is

the 9:
45 tee time.

The professional from

Cattawaukee Golf Club,

Albert Murray.

From Brookline, Massachusetts,

amateur Mr. Francis Ouimet.

[crowd groans]

Whatever you decide, Francis,

keep your head down

and I'll watch the ball.

We're gonna par this hole.

[applause,

whistling in distance]

That's the stuff.

One shot at a time.

[applause in distance]

One putt, we'll get that par.

Nice and steady now.

Make it roll,

it'll seek the hole.

[applause]

Easy peazy, lemon squeezy.

- [cheers]

- [applause]

[crowd groans]

He's not supposed to miss those.

Third one this morning.

What the devil's wrong with him?

I'm sure I don't know, sir.

[buzzing]

- [crowd roars]

- [applause]

It's in the bleedin' trees,

you great bunch o' ninnies.

Ted! Rotten luck, old boy!

- Just one of those days, what?

- Still a lot of golf to play yet!

Toffee-nosed git.

[Vardon] There are only

two types of player:

Those who keep their nerves in

control and win championships,

and those who do not.

Hey, Francis,

who's that big, fat guy?

[Ouimet] Oh, my gosh.

It's President Taft.

Get out!

President Taft?

The United States

President Taft?

- You ever seen a president before?

- First time.

Hey! How you doin' there,

Mr. President?

[laughter]

Francis! Did you just

birdie your last hole?

I guess I did, Frank.

Holy smokes, Francis,

you're tied with Vardon.

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