‘Working with Tiger was like life with Seve on speed’ – Billy Foster

on May 16, 2023 at 11:04 am

Ahead of this week’s PGA Championship, Billy Foster, compares his experiences caddying for Seve and Tiger Woods

Billy Foster is no stranger to the world of golf having been a caddy for 40 years.

He has caddied for the likes of the late great Seve Ballesteros, serial winner Lee Westwood, a certain Tiger Woods and one of the most consistent golfers on tour now Matt Fitzpatrick.

You would spend a lot of time searching for a caddy over the decades and a variety of experiences in coaching such star power.

‘Working with Tiger was like life with Seve on speed’

I remember telling him [Tiger] that for all his fame and money I would never want his life. We were walking through the crowd from the clubhouse to the first tee, about a 200 yard walk and all the fans were screaming at him. I thought, ‘My God my ears are bleeding, I’ve got to get out of here! He had pen marks all over him. We got to the first tee and I said. ‘That reminds me of working for Seve Ballesteros but on speed.’

You can’t sit down in a restaurant and have a meal or go to a bar and have a drink without loads of people all over you wanting selfies and autographs. Everyone wanted five minutes of his time. I said to him: You could be a multi-millionaire, have any woman you want, you could be the best golfer that has ever lived, but I wouldn’t swap your life. He said: ‘ Billy, that’s why I don’t play so much.’ I got it. You almost felt sorry for him.

‘Only Tiger knows if he should retire or not’

Only Tiger knows how bad his leg is. Only Tiger knows if it is going to get stronger. If it does get stronger he could still win out there, I still believe that. But if it keeps deteriorating it goes without saying he will have to throw in the towel at some stage but let’s hope it does get stronger and he can play top line competitive golf again.

‘Lee Westwood said he would caddie for Tiger if I didn’t’

He came up to Darren Clarke at the Bridgestone and had a chat with him, then walked away. Clarkey turned around to me and said, You know what that was all about?’ I said , What? Tiger has just said that Steve Williams (his regular caddie), his wife is having a baby and is taking the week off. Is it all right if I ask Billy to work for me at the President’s Cup?

Tiger has offered you the job. What are you gonna do?’ I said I didn’t know. Lee Westwood who was five yards away hitting some balls said, ‘If you’re not going to work for him. I will!’

First thing I thought was that this guy was going to win 25 Majors playing left-handed. He was that good. He is the best of all time. It’s just that for the last 15 years he’s been crippled that has stopped him doing it. He would have won 25 majors if he were that good.

I’ve thought to myself, this is an opportunity to tell your kids or your grandkids you know, I worked for Tiger Woods once. I’d worked with Seve. I’d worked with the best from two generations. The thing that stood out for me was his manners which were impeccable. Please and thank you for everything. Just to see him hit shots on the range. He was just in a different league.

He’d have a bucket of balls and you’d look at where he had hit the ball and you’d not think any one had been there. There were no divots. Just brushed every shot off the surface. It was an incredible experience which I will take to my grave.

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