Who Is Lydia Ko's Coach?
Who Is Lydia Ko's Coach?
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Who currently coaches the former world number one Lydia Ko? Here we take a look.
Who Is Lydia Ko's Coach?
Lydia Ko (opens in new tab) is one of the most recognisable faces in the women's game, rising to prominence when she was just 14-years-old.
In 2012, the New Zealander became the youngest person ever to win a professional golf tournament, claiming the Women's NSW Open on the ALPG Tour.
Later that year, at the age of 15, Ko would become the youngest ever winner of an LPGA Tour event, winning the Canadian Open by three strokes.
With such an established career already, who coaches the New Zealander? We find out here.
Who Is Lydia Ko's Coach?
World renowned coach, Sean Foley, has worked with some of golf's biggest names and has been Ko's coach since the end of July 2020.
Foley, who has worked with the likes of Tiger Woods and Justin Rose (opens in new tab), started working with Ko after golf returned from lockdown due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
Speaking about Foley, Ko said: “He hasn't ripped anything apart. He said what I had there was still pretty good. So it's been very small things.
“He's gotten me to not think too much about the lines of everything, I've tried to change my mindset of not taking a video of my swing every single time I'm on the driving range.
“Just go out there, and if the ball is going the way I think it's going, then just play with it. It doesn't need to look like a perfect swing for me just to play golf.”
Ko has had a history of changing coaches. Whilst number one in the world, Ko was coached by David Leadbetter, with the pair controversially splitting in 2016.
In an interview with New Zealand’s Radio Sport, Leadbetter said: “Her parents have a lot to answer for . . . They tell her when to go to bed, what to eat, what to wear, when to practice and what to practice. They expect her to win every tournament.”
Ko's coach whilst growing up was Guy Wilson, then in late 2013, she would appoint Leadbetter, leaving him in late 2016. She would then work with Gary Gilchrist, Ted Oh, David Whelan and then Jorge Parada, with Foley being her seventh coach in seven years.
Related: Who Is Hideki Matsuyama's Coach? (opens in new tab)
Matt joined Golf Monthly in February 2021 covering weekend news, before also transitioning to equipment and testing. After freelancing for Golf Monthly and The PGA for 18 months, he was offered a full-time position at the company in October 2022 and continues to cover weekend news and social media, as well as help look after Golf Monthly’s many buyers’ guides and equipment reviews.
Taking up the game when he was just seven years of age, Matt made it into his county squad just a year later and continues to play the game at a high standard, with a handicap of around 2-4. To date, his best round came in 2016, where he shot a six-under-par 66 having been seven-under through nine holes. He currently plays at Witney Lakes in Oxfordshire and his favourite player is Rory McIlroy, despite nearly being struck by his second shot at the 17th during the 2015 BMW PGA Championship.
Matt’s current What’s In The Bag?
Driver: Honma TW747, 8.75°
Fairway Wood: TaylorMade Rocketballz Stage 2, 15°, 19°
Hybrid: Adams Super Hybrid, 22°
Irons: Mizuno MP54, 5-PW
Wedges: Cleveland 588 RTX 2.0 Tour Satin, 50°, 56°, 60°
Putter: Cleveland TFI 2135 Satin Cero
Ball: Titleist Pro V1x
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