‘Means the world to me’ – Visibly-emotional caddie got priceless Ryder Cup gift from Luke Donald
Unseen Ryder Cup footage has shown the touching moment Europe captain Luke Donald left a caddie visibly moved by a touching gift. Prior to the start of the 2023 Ryder Cup in Rome, Donald the caddies convened for a pre-tournament meeting in a dining room. Donald gave a brief address to the caddies, before handing over a special giftYouTube: Ryder Cup Donald told the group he believed their role throughout the week was ‘just as important’ as the players who would be competing on the fairways at Marco Simone Golf and Country Club. The Europe skipper also reminded the caddies the team had not lost at home for 30 years and did not want that streak to stop. Donald’s chat then zeroed in on legendary English caddie Billy Foster, who was on the bag for Matt Fitzpatrick. Foster had also caddied for the late Seve Ballesteros, who won a staggering 22.5 from 37 possible points across the eight Ryder Cups he competed in. The 2023 Ryder Cup marked Foster’s 15th appearance at the iconic tournament and Donald provided him with a special gift to pay tribute. It was a replica of the Ryder Cup engraved with all the years Foster had been involved. Foster, visibly emotional, tightly hugged Donald and told the captain: “Thank you so much. It means the world to me. It means the world to me, you know that?” Foster then delivered a speech to the rest of the caddies. “These are the best days of your life,” Foster said. “Make sure you treasure this week. It might be the only one you ever do. It might be one of 16 that you do and go past me. Foster was visibly moved by Donald’s special giftYouTube: Ryder Cup “It’s so special, it means so much. Thank you so much, it means the world to me.” Footage of the emotional moment was captured in a documentary titled Una Famiglia, which gave behind-the-scenes access to Europe’s Ryder Cup triumph over the United States. Donald’s gift to Foster was also one example of the several personal touches he provided for the team. At the start of the week, Donald organised for every Europe player to receive an individual video where they had a family member, friend, coach or a caddie talk about how proud they were of the players. “It just really gives us a sense that we’re not alone in this and that there’s so many people that are in our corner,” Rory McIlroy said. Just about every player was left in tears upon receiving the video, as Donald’s personal touches throughout the week worked a charm. Donald’s personal touches worked a charm as Europe triumphed at the 2023 Ryder CupGetty It was in complete contrast to America’s approach under captain Zach Johnson, who bemoaned not putting enough ‘value into time management’ prior to the event. American golf analyst Paul Azinger also shed light on Johnson’s lassez-faire approach, which proved to be costly. Azinger described Donald as ‘inspirational’ for Europe, but claimed Johnson took an approach that ‘less is more’. Azinger added, via Sky Sports: “They wanted to out-prepare the Europeans this week. “But when it comes to their locker room and that sort of thing, not a lot of inspirational stuff going on. The American team room is not inspiring.” Johnson is one-and-done as American captain, with Keegan Bradley named in his place for the 2025 Ryder Cup. Next year’s Ryder Cup takes place at Bethpage Black Course in New York and begins on September 26.
Unseen Ryder Cup footage has shown the touching moment Europe captain Luke Donald left a caddie visibly moved by a touching gift.
Prior to the start of the 2023 Ryder Cup in Rome, Donald the caddies convened for a pre-tournament meeting in a dining room.
Donald told the group he believed their role throughout the week was ‘just as important’ as the players who would be competing on the fairways at Marco Simone Golf and Country Club.
The Europe skipper also reminded the caddies the team had not lost at home for 30 years and did not want that streak to stop.
Donald’s chat then zeroed in on legendary English caddie Billy Foster, who was on the bag for Matt Fitzpatrick.
Foster had also caddied for the late Seve Ballesteros, who won a staggering 22.5 from 37 possible points across the eight Ryder Cups he competed in.
The 2023 Ryder Cup marked Foster’s 15th appearance at the iconic tournament and Donald provided him with a special gift to pay tribute.
It was a replica of the Ryder Cup engraved with all the years Foster had been involved.
Foster, visibly emotional, tightly hugged Donald and told the captain: “Thank you so much. It means the world to me. It means the world to me, you know that?”
Foster then delivered a speech to the rest of the caddies.
“These are the best days of your life,” Foster said.
“Make sure you treasure this week. It might be the only one you ever do. It might be one of 16 that you do and go past me.
“It’s so special, it means so much. Thank you so much, it means the world to me.”
Footage of the emotional moment was captured in a documentary titled Una Famiglia, which gave behind-the-scenes access to Europe’s Ryder Cup triumph over the United States.
Donald’s gift to Foster was also one example of the several personal touches he provided for the team.
At the start of the week, Donald organised for every Europe player to receive an individual video where they had a family member, friend, coach or a caddie talk about how proud they were of the players.
“It just really gives us a sense that we’re not alone in this and that there’s so many people that are in our corner,” Rory McIlroy said.
Just about every player was left in tears upon receiving the video, as Donald’s personal touches throughout the week worked a charm.
It was in complete contrast to America’s approach under captain Zach Johnson, who bemoaned not putting enough ‘value into time management’ prior to the event.
American golf analyst Paul Azinger also shed light on Johnson’s lassez-faire approach, which proved to be costly.
Azinger described Donald as ‘inspirational’ for Europe, but claimed Johnson took an approach that ‘less is more’.
Azinger added, via Sky Sports: “They wanted to out-prepare the Europeans this week.
“But when it comes to their locker room and that sort of thing, not a lot of inspirational stuff going on. The American team room is not inspiring.”
Johnson is one-and-done as American captain, with Keegan Bradley named in his place for the 2025 Ryder Cup.
Next year’s Ryder Cup takes place at Bethpage Black Course in New York and begins on September 26.
