US Open: Matt Fitzpatrick's caddie Billy Foster reflects on winning major a year ago at Brookline - 'Utter relief'
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Updated 16/06/2023 at 09:57 GMT
It's been a year since Matt Fitzpatrick stunned the golfing world by winning his first major at the US Open. For the Englishman's caddie Billy Foster, it signalled "utter relief" after some near misses on the bag in major tournaments for the likes of Thomas Bjorn and Lee Westwood. "How that putt missed I’ll never know," Foster said of Will Zalatoris' miss on the last that gave Fitzpatrick the win.
'Utter relief, no excitement' - Foster reflects on caddying Fitzpatrick to major glory
As Englishman Matt Fitzpatrick gears up for the defence of his US Open crown, his caddie Billy Foster looks back on their dramatic US Open victory at Brookline last year - and also the near-misses that preceded - in a new Eurosport documentary that celebrates his epic career on the bag.
Foster is one of the most colourful characters in the sport and has worked with some of the game’s biggest names such as Seve Ballesteros, Darren Clarke, Lee Westwood, Sergio Garcia and Tiger Woods during a success-laden career that has also included 15 Ryder Cup appearances.
However, he has also suffered a series of agonising near-misses on the sport’s biggest stages in his quest for major glory - a tale of woe that finally came to an end last year.
Speaking in a new Eurosport documentary, Fairway - Billy Foster’s quest for golfing glory, he reflects on his rollercoaster ride of a career and the emotion of that crowd-pleasing major triumph that was four decades in the making.
“I've probably watched it maybe a dozen times now, and I think next time I watch, Zalatoris' putt will go in,” says Foster, recalling the crucial miss by American Will Zalatoris on the final green that confirmed Fitzpatrick’s victory.
Foster could only look on as Darren Clarke (The Open, 1997, 2001), Lee Westwood (The Open, 2009, Masters, 2010) and, most memorably, Thomas Bjorn (The Open, 2003) all let great chances to capture a major title slip away and he feared another heart-breaking scenario as last year’s US Open came to a dramatic conclusion.
“I’m stood at the side, listening to the crowd and they’re getting louder and louder and louder and you just know it’s in,” he continues, “and then when it misses, and the ball is still above ground, wow, it’s one of those moments, finally something in a major has finally gone your way. How that putt missed I’ll never know.”
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Matthew Fitzpatrick of England holds the trophy with his caddie Billy Foster after his one shot victory in the final round of the 2022 U.S.Open at The Country Club on June 19, 2022 in Brookline, Massachusetts.
Image credit: Getty Images
Fitzpatrick closed in on his first major with an incredible nine-iron approach to the 18th from a fairway bunker that heaped the pressure on his playing partner Zalatoris.
“You just know as the ball is in the air, 'oh you beautiful thing',” recalls Foster. “As it landed on the green and the crowd erupted, 'you little beauty'.”
In the documentary, Fitzpatrick also reveals, “He’s never done this in the four years that we’ve worked together, but I walked past him and he gave me a high-five. At that moment you can tell that he is buzzing with what has just happened.
“He’s normally very calm throughout, whatever situation it is, so that told me that he knew that was a big deal.”
Foster insists that he was not fixated on securing a major title but he knew the clock was ticking if he were to fill a significant void on his golfing CV.
“I’ve had a lovely career, I’ve been involved in 15 Ryder Cups, won 45 tournaments with different players, and good tournaments, topped money lists, No. 1 in the world with Lee Westwood, you’ve done a lot of things, but you just feel it’s not complete because you’ve never won a major with anybody,” he recalls.
He adds: “I found that a bit sad and when you get to 57 years old and you’re thinking you might retire at 60, there’s only 12 majors left, you’re not going to win one are you? No, you’re not. God bless you Fitz!”
As the win was confirmed, instead of immediately embracing Fitzpatrick, Foster’s head dropped for a moment of personal reflection.
“All them bad moments, Clarkey at Troon, Clarkey at Lytham, Westy at Turnberry, Thomas in the bunker, all that was [floating away], it was flying out my head for those three or four seconds,” he reveals.
“You’ve finally realised your dream. It’s just like, 'phew, thank God for that'. It was just relief, a feeling of utter relief, no excitement, until I’d supped a whole bottle of champagne in the locker room!”
In the aftermath, Foster was greeted with almost as much praise as Fitzpatrick, with pros and fans alike all aware of the journey he had been on and the anguish he had experienced.
The duo have also tasted success since at the PGA Tour’s RBC Heritage in April and will go in search of another major victory at the Los Angeles Country Club this week.
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