Young Harry Vardon, a kid from a poor family on the isle of Jersey, awakens one morning to hear a commotion outside. Men have arrived to start construction of a golf course. When he asks what golf is, a snooty man in black responds, "Golf is a game played by gentlemen. Not for the likes of you." This young boy grows up to become England's greatest golfer, the winner of six British opens. Meanwhile in America, two decades later, Francis Ouimet (Matthew Knight) caddies at the golf club across the street from his working-class home in Brookline, Massachusetts. He has a yearning to become a champion and is fortunate enough to attend a demonstration given by Vardon (Stephen Dillane) on a visit to America. The two are destined to meet in the 1913 U.S. Open when the patriotic newspaper magnate Lord Northcliffe (Peter Firth) puts up the money to bring two British golfers to compete and smash the Yanks. Francis (Shia LeBeouf), who had agreed to put golf on the back burner because of a promise he made to his immigrant father (Elias Koteas), changes his mind and enters the U.S. Open as a twenty-year old.

Actor Bill Paxton directs this sports drama based on a book by Mark Frost. At the center of the story is the class-consciousness that infuriates Vardon and Ouimet and serves as the fire that animates their games. Francis is shunned and treated like an outsider by the upper-class men running the U.S. Open. His spunk is appreciated by Sarah Willis (Peyton List), a rich young woman whose father and brother loathe Francis as an intruder in their country-club setting. Certainly the most appealing character in the film is pint-sized Eddie Lowery (Josh Flitter), a ten-year old who volunteers at the last minute to be Francis' s caddy. Many times during the competition, he provides just the right counsel and advice. Paxton comes up with several innovative cinematic tricks to up the dramatic ante in the golf games. He also makes good use of the music of Brian Tyler.