Top caddie announces split from major champion

It looks as though another of golf’s most successful player-caddie combos has reached the end of the road. 

Matt Fitzpatrick and Billy Foster appear to have split, with Foster announcing the news on his Instagram account.

“After six great years, all good things come to an end,” wrote the veteran looper. “This game never stops to frustrate you & infuriate you….!!!

“Unfortunately times change & ultimately it’s the caddie or the coach that has to accept results are not good enough & when you stop enjoying what you are doing it’s time for a change.

“Thanks Matt, we had a great run & who knows where the next chapter will go. Onwards & Upwards.”

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At the time of publishing, Fitzpatrick had yet to comment.

The pair had a hugely successful run, the undoubted highlight being Fitzpatrick’s US Open triumph in 2022 – the first time either man had tasted major glory.

They also teamed up for victories on the PGA Tour, DP World Tour and in the Ryder Cup.

However, Fitzpatrick has endured a wretched run of form in recent months, managing only one top-20 finish since last summer’s US Open, sliding to 61st on the Official World Golf Ranking in the process.

A missed cut at The PLAYERS Championship gave him his third missed cut in last seven worldwide starts – and it appears Foster has paid the price.

The Bingley St Ives looper had previously indicated an intention to scale back on his caddying responsibilities this year, outlining a plan to share Fitzpatrick’s bag with fellow caddie Daniel Parratt.

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“Who knows, I might be back full time at some point but now seems the right time to give the body a break and catch up on things I miss out on,” Foster told Golfweek in January. “I might event start playing golf again.”

Parratt, who previously looped for Ben An and Tom Kim, was on Fitzpatrick’s bag throughout the West Coast Swing, with Foster returning for last week’s Arnold Palmer Invitational.

He had also intended to steer Fitzpatrick through the Masters, US Open and Open, with Parratt handling matters at the PGA Championship in May.

Michael McEwan is bunkered's Head of Content and has been part of the team since 2004. In that time, he has interviewed almost every major figure within the sport, from Jack Nicklaus, to Rory McIlroy, to Donald Trump. The host of the multi award-winning bunkered Podcast and a member of Balfron Golfing Society, Michael is the author of three books and is the 2023 PPA Scotland 'Writer of the Year' and 'Columnist of the Year'. Dislikes white belts, yellow balls and iron headcovers. Likes being drawn out of the media ballot to play Augusta National.

Head of Content