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Oscar Haley

Leeds United supporter and US Open winning caddie Billy Foster issues Raphinha transfer advice

US Open winning golf caddie and Whites super-fan Billy Foster wants Leeds United to hold on to Brazilian winger Raphinha until after the 2022 World Cup.

Foster won his first golf major as a caddie last weekend alongside Matt Fitzpatrick, who pipped Will Zalatoris on the final hole to secure US Open glory.

In the past, the 59-year-old has caddied for the likes of Seve Ballesteros, Lee Westwood, Tiger Woods and Sergio Garcia, who is also a Leeds United fan and the brother-in-law of Pablo Hernandez.

READ MORE: Leeds United supporter Billy Foster wins US Open as caddie with Matt Fitzpatrick

And speaking to BBC West Yorkshire Sport Daily in the aftermath of his and Fitzpatrick stateside win, Foster revealed his elaborate plan that would help Leeds maximise their transfer profit for the Brazilian winger.

"Can you pass on a message?" Foster asked host Adam Pope. "If they're going to lose Raphinha, which looks like they probably will and fair play to him, he kept us up single-handedly basically.

"Keep him, let him go to the World Cup, be the superstar that he is, and from £50m, he'll be £100m, and Barcelona might have some money then and let him go in January. Makes sense to me!"

Fitzpatrick's US Open win banished the demons of the PGA Championship defeat he suffered in mid-May. On that very same day, Leeds were playing in their final Premier League contest of the season against Brentford, which would decide their top flight fate.

An injury-time winner from Jack Harrison helped Jesse Marsch and co past the Bees at the Brentford Community Stadium, securing the Whites a 2-1 win and their Premier League status for next season. And it's a day Foster recalls well.

"I'll tell you what, when he [Fitzpatrick] lost the PGA Championship only four weeks ago, he was going to the tee leading with a chance to win his first major, I couldn't concentrate on the golf," Foster said.

"In fact, I did an interview with Sky Sports and they said 'how are you feeling about today?' and I said 'well, it's obviously the last round of a major, I'm very nervous, I feel sick to the pit of my stomach and I just want to throw up'.

"I said 'not about the golf, but about Leeds United! C'mon Leeds!' because they were playing Brentford at the time. That were absolute torture! The last 20 minutes pacing around the caddie shack before he teed off listening to Leeds on the radio...horrible!"

"Hopefully they've learnt they'll learn from their lessons and get a bit of a deeper squad. They're a massive club and hopefully they can bounce back and have a decent season."

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Leeds United news as Victor Orta sets new asking price for in demand winger Raphinha

Former Leeds United boss Marcelo Bielsa ruled out of Athletic Bilbao reunion

FIFA rule change hands Patrick Bamford extra Leeds United motivation following injury hell

Kalvin Phillips nears Leeds United exit with Man City deal potentially worth more than £50m

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