Ryder Cup Europe caddie echoes Rory McIlroy with message to US rivals over pay - 'They make enough'

Billy Foster has been an ever-present member of the European Ryder Cup team as a caddie since his debut in 1987, and knows more than most what the matchplay event stands for

Legendary European Ryder Cup caddie Billy Foster echoed the sentiments of Rory McIlroy when discussing the prospect of Team USA players being paid to play at the matchplay event in 2025.

A report from The Telegraph last month claimed that the PGA of America are set to pay the American players for the first time in Ryder Cup history when they tee it up at Bethpage Black next September. The claim has drawn criticism from those on the European side.

Team Europe talisman McIlroy admitted he would pay to represent his continent at the matchplay event, after making his feelings clear at the DP World Tour Championship in November.

"I personally would pay for the privilege to play on the Ryder Cup," the four-time major champion told BBC Sport. "The two purest forms of competition in our game right now are the Ryder Cup and the Olympics, and it's partly because of that, the purity of no money being involved."

And Foster - who has made a remarkable 15 appearances at the Ryder Cup as a caddie - is in agreement with McIlroy. "I'd pay to play in it, never mind get paid," the Yorkshireman told Mirror Sport. "They get paid enough money. Play for your country, your passion, your pride."

He went on: "If the Americans want $400,000 to play then let them have it, because our lads won’t want anything." Foster is no stranger to the Ryder Cup pay debate, having made his feelings known at the 1999 event when the topic overshadowed the American team's efforts at Brookline.

“This has been going on for years and years. I remember wearing a t-shirt in 1999 at the Ryder Cup," Foster explained "My t-shirt had a European flag on it and it said ‘We play for pride, not money’. That has been going on for 25 years. They were moaning about it then."

The Englishman has become one of the most recognised caddies in the game during his career, working alongside the likes of Seve Ballesteros, Darren Clarke, Lee Westwood and Tiger Woods. He now works alongside fellow Yorkshireman Matt Fitzpatrick, who he helped guide to a first major title at the US Open in 2022.

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The pair have built a strong relationship during their time together, but Foster revealed he will share his duties with Fitzpatrick heading into 2025 with fellow looper Dan Parratt. "I'm going to do a job share next year," Foster commented. "I'm 59 next week so I am going to do a job share. With 26, 27 events every year, transatlantic, it is catching up with me so I will share with Dan Parratt who has caddied for about 15 years.

"I will be doing about 13, 14 tournaments whatever it ends up being. I might do an odd couple in Europe with different people, we will see." Delving further into his plan with Fizpatrick, Foster added: "We will alternate. I am going to go to Hawaii in a couple of weeks. Dan will do California.

"I will do Florida, the Masters and Hilton Head and Dan will do US PGA and Memorial. I will come and do the US Open, The Open and the Scottish [Open], and Dan will come in and do the FedEx Cup playoffs." Foster has featured alongside Fitzpatrick at the last three Ryder Cups, but the most recent in Italy proved to be a special one.

Ahead of his 15th appearance in Italy last year, Foster was presented with a trophy by captain Luke Donald in front of his colleagues to honour his services, which proved to be a special moment. "It was an incredibly humbling moment," Foster said of the recognition. "It has been a huge part of my life, and to get an honour off Luke was very humbling. It was a very emotional moment for me, and very nice for him to consider that."

Foster will most likely make appearance No. 16 as a caddie in New York this year, and the veteran is expecting a tough task in front of a raucous New York crowd. "It will be difficult. I think it is going to be a brutal Ryder Cup. It might go down as one of the most boisterous of all time because it is New York.

"They are burning from last time. The crowd could a get a bit out of control, I hope I am wrong. All 12 players have to turn up and play well or it will be really difficult. Can they win? Yes they can, but it will be an incredibly tough task."