When Tiger Woods picked British caddie Billy Foster for the 2005 Presidents Cup, it raised a few eyebrows. Woods went ahead with his choice, and the decision quickly paid off. Foster gave him a reality check in just five words. It was a rare moment that left even the 15-time major champion stunned. Not everyone gets to caddy for Tiger, but those who have are remembered in golf history. Foster joined that elite list, even if only for a week. Within a week, Foster came to realize the harsh side of Tiger Woods’ glorious life on the golf course.

The Yorkshire caddy said that the crowd was crazy about Tiger Woods, but there was more to it. “Tiger got to tell you something. You might have any woman in the world you want. You might be a billionaire and go down as the best golfer that’s ever played the game, but I won’t swap our lives,” said Foster. To this, Tiger replied, saying, “Billy, at least somebody understands what I have to go through. That’s why I don’t play.”

Foster recently shared the story on the Rick Shiels Golf Show. “I was at Akron for the Bridgestone, caddying for Darren Clarke. Tiger comes along, chats with Clarke, walks away, and about two minutes later, Clarke turns to me and says, ‘You know what that was all about?’ I said, ‘No, what?’ He explained Tiger needed someone to carry for a week because Steve Williams’s wife was having a baby and asked if I’d do it. I said, ‘Really?’ Clarke asked, ‘What you going to do?’ I didn’t know. Then Lee Westwood, hitting balls nearby, said, ‘Hey Billy, if you don’t work for him, I will.’ I thought, ‘Good point, Lee.’”

With a little push from Lee Westwood, Foster agreed to caddy for Woods at the 2005 Presidents Cup. The decision stirred some controversy among the American team caddies, who weren’t happy that a European would work for their star player. Foster even considered asking Woods to step back when they met at a Target store, but Woods surprised him. “‘F them, Billy. You’re carrying.’ I went, ‘All right, mate. Fair enough.'”

Tiger Woods has always drawn huge attention. Although he has played infrequently in recent years, every appearance boosts fan numbers dramatically. His 2018 Tour Championship win, for example, delivered the highest-rated FedEx Cup broadcast ever, with a 206% increase over 2017. The final round had a 5.21 overnight rating, making it the highest-rated non-major PGA Tour telecast that year.

Foster’s brief stint with Tiger Woods left a lasting impression. It was a moment that would shape the rest of his caddying career and the stories he’d share in the years to come.

Billy Foster’s impressive caddying career

Billy Foster got his start in the early 1980s, volunteering at a European Tour event in Bradford. He soon joined Hugh Baiocchi and caddied for him at The Open in 1984. Foster’s skill and persistence quickly earned him bigger assignments, helping Baiocchi reach the European top 20.

After that, he had a short stint with Gordon Brand, including being part of the 1987 Ryder Cup team that won in the U.S. His most memorable partnership came next: Seve Ballesteros. Working with Seve taught Foster how to handle high-pressure moments and think creatively on the course. He was there for some of European golf’s most dramatic Ryder Cup moments.

Later, he caddied for several elite players such as Darren Clarke (for six years), Thomas Bjorn, Sergio Garcia, and Lee Westwood. With Clarke, Foster was by his side for victories like the 2000 WGC Accenture World Match Play over Tiger Woods. Of late, he was working with Matt Fitzpatrick before parting ways in 2025. In 2022, Foster won his first major championship as a caddie with Matt Fitzpatrick.