Billy Foster recalls his first gig as a caddie. ‘Portuguese Open, 1983, with Tony Johnstone,’ he says. ‘He finished seventh and won 900 quid, so I got five per cent and 45 quid. It’s fair to say it didn’t cover my expenses.’
Last weekend in Atlanta, however, Mark Fulcher fared rather better when Justin Rose sunk the putt that secured the 2018 FedEx Cup. With caddies generally receiving 10 per cent of the prize money when the boss wins a tournament, ‘Fooch’ was celebrating a cheque for a million dollars.
Fulcher is here at the Ryder Cup this week with Rose but he is not the first bag carrier to command such vast sums of money. There was a time when Steve Williams, for more than 10 years the caddie to Tiger Woods, was the highest paid sports star in New Zealand.
Billy Foster reflected on his career with Sportsmail and how life as a golf caddie has changed
Mark Fulcher (R) enjoyed a pay day of a million dollars after Justin Rose’s win in Atlanta
While Forbes magazine reported that Rory McIlroy’s caddie, J P Fitzgerald, earned $1.65million in 2017 and Gareth Lord splashed out on a Ferrari when Henrik Stenson paid him his cut for winning the 2013 FedEx Cup.
‘Players and caddies should have a prayer mat with Tiger’s face on it and thank him every day,’ says Foster. ‘He changed everything, in terms of the prize money, and made it possible even for the caddies to earn good money.
‘When I started it was difficult to make a living. I was also working as an apprentice joiner for my dad, getting paid £20 a week but also getting sacked three times a week.
Henrik Stenson’s caddie, Gareth Lord, bought a Ferrari after the Swede won 2013 FedEx Cup
‘It was better I went out on the road as a caddie in the end but in those early days I was sleeping in tents and sometimes bushes.’
Foster has had a great career. A veteran prior to this week of 13 Ryder Cups and caddie to players of the stature of Seve Ballesteros and Lee Westwood, he is here this week as assistant to vice-captain Westwood and ‘chief entertainment officer in the European locker room’. He is also writing a daily blog for the European Team’s wet weather gear supplier, Galvin Green.
‘I have had a brilliant time,’ says Foster. ‘I’ve travelled the world and worked with some great players.
‘But the young lads coming into the game now, if they can get a job with one of the top players working in America there’s some serious money to be made. It wasn’t the motivation for me. I did it to see the world and learn more about the game.
Foster (L) hailed the impact of Tiger Woods on the game of golf and its impact on the caddies
‘Now, though, there’s some crazy money to be made. The standard these days is between five and seven and a half per cent of prize money and 10 per cent for a win.
‘Next year the FedEx prize money goes up to $15million, so a caddie is going to get $1.5million. Times have changed for sure.’
After more than a decade with Rose the game has certainly been kind to Fulcher. In their time together Rose has won the US Open, an Olympic gold medal, two World Golf Championships and risen to the top of the global rankings. Thanks, in part, to Woods, the rewards have been considerable.