Lee Westwood Enlists Billy Foster in Attempt to Ward Off LIV Golf Demotion Peril
In the final stretch of the LIV Golf season, Lee Westwood has made a significant move by reuniting with his former caddie, Billy Foster. This reunion comes as LIV Golf enforces a strict relegation policy, with no exceptions for team captains, in an effort to gain Official World Golf Ranking (OWGR) points.
Westwood and Foster had a successful partnership between 2009 and 2018, during which Westwood rose to World No.1 in the Official World Golf Ranking. Foster's return is timely, as Westwood finds himself at 46th place in the LIV Golf individual standings, with the cutoff for relegation set at 49th place.
Foster has recently caddied for Collin Morikawa at the Genesis Scottish Open and the Open Championship. However, he is now officially in semi-retirement, and his reunion with Westwood marks a return to active duty. Foster expressed his excitement on Instagram, saying, "Great to be back with the old dawg for a couple of weeks. LIVing the dream!"
The change in the relegation rules is a key part of LIV Golf's fresh bid for OWGR points. Previously, captains such as Bubba Watson and Branden Grace were retained despite relegation zone finishes due to business cases or team decisions. However, this season, there is no reprieve or exemption for team captains, including Westwood.
Several other captains are also at risk. Ian Poulter, who captains Majesticks GC, is currently in 51st place, while Henrik Stenson is in 47th. The Majesticks are near the bottom of the team standings, and all three of their co-captains—Stenson, Poulter, and Watson—are at risk of relegation.
Westwood's usual caddie, his wife Helen Storey, will not be caddying for him in the upcoming LIV Golf events. Instead, Foster will take on the role. This reunion was announced on social media by the Majesticks team.
The rules for relegation in LIV Golf have been tweaked during the 2024 season, with enhanced and enforced relegation being a key focus. Players finishing 49th and lower in the standings will be relegated from the LIV Golf league.
As the season comes to a close, the stakes are high for all players, but particularly for the team captains. Their individual performances will directly affect their place in the league for the following season. The upcoming LIV Golf events in Chicago and Indianapolis promise to be exciting, with Westwood and Foster aiming to secure a spot for Westwood and the Majesticks in the 2026 season.
Foster will assist Westwood as his caddie once more in the upcoming LIV Golf events, marking a return to active duty for the former pair who had a successful partnership in golf from 2009 to 2018. Westwood, now in 46th place in the LIV Golf individual standings, is at risk of relegation due to the stricter relegation policy enforced by LIV Golf this season, with no exceptions for team captains.
