Billy Foster recounts a story about one of Europe’s most high-profile golfers playing alongside a young Tiger Woods in 1996. “He’s a little raw,” was the sniffy verdict. Within a year, Woods won his first Masters and disappeared over the horizon.
Foster’s own perceptions appear sound. The veteran caddie, now on the bag of Matt Fitzpatrick, was in the company of Ludvig Åberg as the Swede made his professional debut at last June’s Canadian Open. On the Friday evening, Foster sent a text to Luke Donald. “If you are good enough, you are old enough,” Foster told Europe’s Ryder Cup captain. “This lad is going to be a stud. Keep tabs on his every move.” Donald did more than that. Åberg made his Ryder Cup debut as Europe reclaimed the trophy in Rome. Donald had labelled his rookie a “generational talent”. Eslöv, a town with a population of around 20,000 near Malmö, had produced a global star.
