Matt Fitzpatrick was rightly praised for his victory at the US Open in Brooklyn, but he felt that even more goodwill was flying towards Foster. One of the most popular golf characters had broken his duck. In almost 40 years of playing high-profile golfers such as Seve Ballesteros, Lee Westwood, Bjørn and Darren Clarke, no champion has won. More than 40 title wins and a key role in Ryder Cup moments that is the material of the legend, but never one of the four major golf titles. The fact that a 27-year-old Yorkshire compatriot gave Foster his moment led to an appreciation from the whole sport. An emotional Foster kissed the flag in the 18th hole, as the victory was confirmed by a blow from Will Zalatoris that tightened shortly after the hole. “I had seen many of my classmates get great education,” Foster said. “It simply came to our notice then. Darren had his chances, Thomas in the Sandwich, West in Mickelson in the Masters and the three-pointer in Turnbury in 2009. There was a lot of frustration in there, a lot of scar tissue. Once Will’s shot was lost, it was just complete relief. The gorilla is now on my back. “No monkey, gorilla.” Foster missed the scheduled flight home on Sunday night. It was not clear if he would make the flight home Monday night. “I’m going on holiday on Wednesday, so I better be home by then,” he said. The bond between Fitzpatrick and Foster is strong. “That means the world to Billy,” said the new US Open champion. “It’s unbelievable for him. I know it’s something he wanted for a very, very, very long time. Doing it is incredible. “We ended up working together when I was somewhat between the logs. She had just broken up with Lee and happened to be training. It’s so funny. He kept telling me for the first time at work, “I will do it in just 25 weeks and maybe complete the rest.” “I think he had about two weeks off in four years.” Matt Fitzpatrick fulfills his “dream” to win his first big success at the US Open – video Fitzpatrick has undoubtedly benefited from Foster’s straightforward speech, but there is a softer side to the caddy that he covers well. Foster was silently confident of his employer’s chances at the US Open long before he hit a ball. There was cause for concern at nine back on Sunday, however, as Fitzpatrick lost brief places in 10th and 11th place. In the closing hole, he found sand from the T-shirt before starting a wonderful iron shot that will be a reference point of the US Open for the coming years. “He was playing incredible golf,” Foster added. “When he continued to miss the five-legged ruffles, I thought to myself, ‘The little bastard!’ It made my mind because we all know how good a player he is usually. ‘What are you doing to me?’ I thought he was trying to finish me off. “What an incredible shot in the 18th. We had a difference of opinion about the t-shirt. He likes to hit a driver in this hole, I like to hit a trifle. He hit a trifle and puts it in the shelter and I thought to myself, “Oh, no.” But his recovery was one of the best shots I have ever seen. Thank God. “I always thought Matt was a winner, but I have to admit I did not think he would be as good as he is. It’s a lot better than I thought. He has an incredible work ethic, no one works harder. “I can definitely see him win other big leagues.”