A KEIGHLEY-born caddy has been branded a legend after helping to guide a British golfer to his first major win.

Billy Foster, who lives in Eldwick, was alongside England’s Matt Fitzpatrick, who claimed his first major title and a historic double in the 122nd US Open at Brookline on Sunday.

Foster even kissed the flag on the 18th after Fitzpatrick's win was confirmed. 

Fitzpatrick carded a closing 68 at Brookline to finish six under par, a shot ahead of playing partner Will Zalatoris and world number one Scottie Scheffler.

 

The victory means Fitzpatrick joins 18-time major winner Jack Nicklaus as the only players to win the US Amateur and US Open on the same course, Nicklaus doing so at Pebble Beach in 1961 and 1972.

It is also the first major win for experienced bagman Foster, a member of Bingley St Ives Golf Club, who has worked alongside some of the greats of the sport over the last 40 years.

He has previously been the caddy for stars including Tiger Woods, Lee Westwood, Sergio Garcia and Seve Ballesteros.

Foster also received congratulations from a host of the sport’s top names.

Sir Nick Faldo tweeted: “Huge congratulations Matt. What an awesome ball striking display all day long, especially 15 & 18, plus with tons of bottle mate! To Billy, NOW you are really a legend.”

 

The PGA Tour tweeted pictures of Foster on the course alongside the likes of Woods and Ballesteros, posting: “Nearly four decades on the bag all over the world. Finally, Billy Foster is a major winner.”

Padraig Harrington tweeted: So happy for @MattFitz94. A win for talent with hard work and perseverance. Such a humble guy which often led to people underestimating his ability especially under pressure. And a big shout out for billy, so happy for him. @DPWorldTour @PGATOUR @usopengolf Justin Rose also sent his ‘massive congratulations’ to Fitzpatrick and Foster, also via social media.

Keighley News: Billy Foster has worked with some of the greats of golf over his 40-year caddying careerBilly Foster has worked with some of the greats of golf over his 40-year caddying career

Meanwhile, Fitzpatrick celebrated a dream come true after holding his nerve to win his first major title.

The Sheffield golfer, 27, said: “The feeling’s out of this world.

“It is so cliche, but it’s stuff you dream of as a kid. To achieve it, I can retire a happy man tomorrow.

“It’s what you grow up dreaming of winning and I’ve worked so hard for such a long time.

“I had the big monkey on my back of not winning over here, it’s all everybody talked about and to do it in a major, there’s nothing better.”

Foster has raised fiunds for a number of charities with a series of challenges over the years.

In 2020, he raised more then £34,000 for the NHS by selling off golf memorabilia collected during his illustrious career. Items auctioned off included donated signed Ryder Cup flags, the caddy vest he wore during his time with Woods, In 2010, he walked 100 miles with a golf bag on his back and I raised £70,000 for children’s cancer charity, Candlelighters.