A question of caddieing: Billy Foster

1. How did you start caddying on tour?
In 1981, I watched the Lawrence Batley International at Bingley St Ives, my home course. At the time, I worked as an apprentice joiner with my father. I caddied at Bingley for a while and decided to follow a few tournaments. I went to Fulford and got a job with Jesus Lopez, he was the next Seve at the time. I decided to take a six-week holiday to Spain for the Spanish, Sanyo and Portuguese Opens. While I was there, Hugh Baiocchi offered me a full time job. I ditched the £25-a-week with my father and became a caddy.

2. What was you first paycheque worth?
£50 for two rounds at Bingley St Ives. My first real cheque was in Portugal. We finished seventh, that was worth about £795 for Tony Johnstone and £135 for me. I had to find my flight money, accommodation, meals and everything else out of that cheque. It was tougher back then.

3. What is the biggest mistake that you have ever made during a competition and what were the repercussions?
I don't think that I have made any real howlers. But during the course of the week, I may give out a wrong yardage or club. No caddy is perfect.

4. Name your favourite event/ venue.
I love Loch Lomond, the PGA at Wentworth and the Masters. You can't go wrong with those three. They are great weeks.

5. Which tour event offers the best social life in the evening?
Definitely the Irish Open. In Dublin, you get a proper pint of Irish Guinness.

6. What is the best thing about being a caddy?
Not being stuck in a factory working at "t'mill". It's great to be outside working in a friendly environment. All the lads have a good laugh together. It's a pleasant atmosphere.

7. And the worst?
Being away from home so much. Also there is a lot of wasted time as a caddy, waiting for your player at tournaments, being stuck in hotel rooms and airports. Sometimes it would be nice to just go and play some golf but you have to wait around a lot.

8. What was your proudest moment on tour?
I have had two or three proud moments. The Ryder Cup is always a great week. When we won at Muirfield Village, that was special, the first European Team to win on American soil. But winning the PGA at Wentworth with Seve was my favourite experience. A very proud moment.

9. What is the most important decision you and your boss have ever made?
At the PGA, Seve was in a playoff with Montgomerie. At the first playoff hole, Seve had a four-iron yardage. We discussed taking a five iron, thinking it might fly on us. We took our time and Seve hit it very close, then holed the putt to win the PGA Championship. Looking back, that was a big call.

10. Have you ever been sacked?
Oh yeah! Seve sacked me. In fact, I sacked myself. At the time, he was extremely difficult to work for. We had a big "discussion" at the front of the clubhouse in Augusta and I said a few things that upset him. I am a Yorkshire lad and I speak my mind, say what I think. I laid into him a bit and he didn't like that!

11. Which type of course would you prefer to caddy on, parkland, heathland or a links?
I like the Sunningdale's and Berkshire's of the world. Heathland courses are my favourite.

12. Do you play golf?
I play off about four now. I don’t get a lot of time to play now. I used be a decent player a few years ago but the last five or six years I have lost interest. I can still play good on my day.

13. How do you feel when your boss takes his frustrations out on you?
If it is frustrations of him hitting the wrong club, you have to take it on the chin. Part and parcel of the job. If I have done everything right and I don't feel that I am in the wrong, then I can be fiery. I am a bit of a Yorkshire terrier and I can bite back!

14. If you could caddy for anyone else in the history of the game, who would you chose?
I would be lying if I didn't say I would like to work for Jack Nicklaus. I asked him once if he had a week without a caddy to call me. He has two or three caddies and I said to him that I would like to work with him before he finishes his playing days.

15. Which caddy is the best golfer on tour?
There are a few good single figure handicappers, but I don’t think anyone really stands out.

16. What is your hobby?
Leeds United F.C. I also like to fish and when Harden Cricket Club are desperate, I play for them sometimes. I like team sports. Golf can be very selfish and after watching these people hit the ball, it is easy to get frustrated. I don’t enjoy golf as much as I used to.

17. What is the funniest thing that you have ever seen on tour?
I can't repeat a few. There are many funny stories where people are caught short on the course. We had an incident when I gave Seve a brolly and he squatted down in the woods with his towel with two thousand people watching him! That killed me.

18. What was your most embarrassing moment on tour?
I have fallen on my backside a few times while caddying. Everybody laughs at you. It's not that funny for the caddy but people find it amusing. Other that that, no real bad ones.

19. You are on the final hole of a major and in contention. What would you say to your player?
I would tell him not to rush things, don't get carried away with the situation. Slow down and be focussed on the shot. Make sure that he has 100% confidence over the shot, 95% is not good enough.

20. What is your nickname and why?
It's Billy really, but Clarkey calls me "Gilly". When I jumped in the pond at Valderrama, my hair went back and I looked bald. The people on TV said that David Gilford was in the pond. Darren found that out and it is beginning to haunt me now.

21. Have you ever been tempted to laugh when a player in your group makes an error?
Absolutely! When players top it off the tee and I look at the other caddies, I bite my fingers trying not to burst out laughing. Sometimes I have to put my whole hand in my mouth. There have been occasions when I can't hold back, fortunately the players tend to see the funny side if it, but it's not the thing to do.