Ko’s career nosedive in full swing

It’s the devil’s work for Parada. Jorge Parada has become the latest in the not-so fashionable line of coaching accessories for slumping Kiwi golfer Lydia Ko.

If history is any guide, Parada would be wise not to pack all his possessions into a U-haul and set up with Camp Ko.

David Leadbetter, Gary Gilchrist, Ted Oh and David Whelan have all discovered that being the swing coach for the former world women’s No 1 player has all the job security of being Prime Minister in Australia. What makes Parada’s job even tougher is Ko is playing the worst golf of her career.

The 22-year-old is 46th on the LPGA Rolex Rankings and had last weekend off after failing to make the cut in her first appearance of 2020. Ko had rounds of 74 and 73 to miss the cut at the Australian Open

Ko hasn’t had a top-10 finish in the tour since July last year. While her career earnings topped US$10 million last season, it was significantly her worst year since turning professional at the end of 2013 after a sensational amateur career, with just four top-10 finishes and prizemoney of US$444,256.

Parada’s appointment was low-key – Ko told Radio Sport that Whelan’s employment ended some time ago, with no fanfare.

Her new mentor’s CV isn’t stacked with star names –

Parada is apparently part of the coaching team for a handful of other LPGA players and has worked with PGA grinders such as Jonas Blixt, Matt Every and Russell Knox.

His instructions from the new