Whether you care about the LPGA or not, Lydia Ko has been a driving force in the golfing world since she came on to the scene. Now she’s at a turning point in her career after starting the season with a new coach, caddie, and club sponsor.
Before the year ended, Ko was in a bit of a controversy after firing her caddie, David Leadbetter. He came back at her with harsh thoughts about her parents, burning bridges along the way. I think she’ll be fine though as she sticks with the caddie that ended the 2016 season with her, Gary Matthews.
“It almost feels good because I’m like a rookie again, and I’m starting fresh,” Ko said. “To some extent, it’s going to be a good thing.”
She also hired a new swing coach and adopted new clubs, leaving Callaway and joining the exclusive Parsons Xtreme Golf team.
PXG only signed LPGA players this season, citing a desire to look at golf and the tour from a global perspective. Ko joins Brittany Lang, Christina Kim and Ryan O’Toole as the newcomers. Cristie Kerr, Alison Lee, Sadena Parks, Gerina Piller and Beatriz Recari are LPGA members who started with the clubs.
“In 2016 we saw remarkable growth in international sales,” PXG founder Bob Parsons said in a news release, “but we recognize that we have only scratched the surface. Tour validation is important, and the ladies tour is wildly popular in many countries.”
Ko is starting off the New Year fresh and revitalized. Only time will tell if she made the right moves.
Start the discussion
Login to comment