Peter Mullan, Jack Lowden to star in golf drama Tommy’s Honour

Peter Mullan(Sunshine on Leith), Jack Lowden (’71) and Ophelia Lovibond (Guardians of the Galaxy) are to star in UK drama Tommy’s Honour, about golfing pioneer Tom Morris’ (Mullan) multi-faceted relationship with his son Tommy (Lowden). 

Set to shoot this August in Scotland, the Gutta Percha Productions feature will be directed by Jason Connery (The Philly Kid) from a screenplay by Pamela Marin and Kevin Cook, adapted from Cook’s book of the same name.

Keith Bank of KB Partners, Bob Last of Holdings Ecosse, Jim Kreutzer of Wind Chill Media Group and Tim Moore of Top Dawg Productions (American Sniper) will produce.

Timeless Films will handle international sales and introduce buyers to the project at the upcoming Toronto International Film Festival.

Tommy’s Honour will tell the story of Tom Morris’ relationship with his son Tommy, who showed a remarkable talent of his own and matched his father’s achievement with four Open wins (the first at the age of 17), managing the feat in consecutive championships. 

Tom Morris started his golfing life in his hometown of St Andrews, Scotland as a club and ball maker. He went on to found the “Open” Championship at Prestwick, on a course that he had designed, in 1860.

He was runner-up that year, but set aside his initial disappointment with four subsequent wins as the burgeoning competition developed, and he became the oldest Open winner in 1867, at the age of 46. 

His son Tommy, the first touring professional, went on to surpass his father as a player.and both have been recognized by induction into The World Golf Hall Of Fame.

Commenting on his aspirations for the project, director Connery stated: “I am so incredibly passionate and excited to tell this story. It is a story that is truly close to my heart as I grew up with my father on a golf course, and I have a home an hour from St. Andrews. This is an extraordinary and intimate tale of love and family at the beginning of the great game of golf.”

Producer Keith Bank followed: “Even the most ardent golfers know very little about the origins of the sport. There are massive efforts out there to try to grow the game, and my partner Jim and I know of no better way to do so than to educate and entertain people through exposing them to its colourful history, beginning in the UK”. 

Robbie Allen, senior screen executive at Creative Scotland, said: “We are proud to support the realisation of this very Scottish story from director Jason Connery and producer Bob Last. This captivating and emotional father and son drama is set to engage and entertain audiences at home and internationally.

“A high profile project, with an exciting cast, this production provides the perfect opportunity to showcase Scotland’s creative, craft and technical talent, our stunning locations and the wealth of our social and sporting history,” he continued.