Billy Foster (left): “There's nothing wrong with what they had before.” Photo: Getty Images/Stuart Kerr
“Beast” or “masterpiece”? The jury is still out on a new 17th-place finish at Royal Liverpool for the 151st Open Championship, and a verdict can only be reached after the potential champion either tiptoes past the giant in the Claret Jug on Sunday.
Billy Foster, Matt Fitzpatrick's no-nonsense Yorkshire caddy, caused a stir on Monday by calling the 136-yard new runner “monster”. Foster was found on the practice green Tuesday with his head bowed. “It went viral, didn't it?” he said.
“I only meant that if he slips and the leader comes to the 17th and takes the nine without even scoring a bad shot, it will be a shame. Maybe it was dramatic, but the Open is remembered for a disaster that actually happened through no fault of the players. This is my 38th Open I've competed in and I don't want to see it. I'm just saying what many others think.”
Fitzpatrick's own assessment of Martin Ebert's creation, named “Little Eye” on the scorecard, was eloquent. “Interesting,” the 2022 US Open winner replied when asked. “I'll leave it at that.”
Darren Clarke, the 2011 Open champion, considers it “almost brilliant”, only lamenting the lack of a “percentage roll”. Meanwhile, Brooks Koepka, the reigning US PGA champion, is a fan. “I think it's an interesting hole,” he said. But it depends on the wind. If you have side wind, it can be quite interesting.
“Look, I really believe in short par-threes. I'm not a big fan of 260-250 yard par-triples. They are kind of boring. You already know it's three irons and they all hit him in the same place. I think all the best pair-threes ever made in the world are 165 yards or less. There are 12th in Augusta, 17th in Sougrass. Postage stamp [8th in Troon]. There are a bunch of them, and you can walk away with a five. I like it.”
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