Sir Bob advises Ko against another coach
Sir Bob Charles has urged Lydia Ko not to appoint another highprofile coach after parting ways with David Leadbetter.
The renowned English instructor on Thursday revealed that Ko had ended their hugely successful association after three years together, and criticised the Kiwi world No 1’s parents for having too much involvement in her career.
Charles, who became New Zealand’s first ever major winner in 1963 when he won the The Open Championship, says Ko is now at the stage where she does not need a fulltime coach.
But when the 19-year-old does require advice, he believes she should turn to former mentor Guy Wilson, who spent more than a decade overseeing her development before she joined Leadbetter’s academy at the end of 2013.
‘‘I would suggest that she play the game her way,’’ Charles said.
‘‘Please, please don’t go out looking for another David Leadbetter or whatever, just go back to Guy. Just have casual conversations with him and I think she would be a lot happier. But forget about looking for people outside of her environment.’’
Charles admitted the 19-yearold needed to take more ownership of her game but stopped short of questioning the influence of Ko’s parents, Gil Hong and Tina Hyon.
In fact, he praised them for taking Ko to the top of the golf world.
‘‘I know her mother has been with her every step of the way and I think she’s a lovely lady. I think she’s done a terrific job (bringing up Ko), not only into a incredible golfer but a terrific person,’’ Charles added.
‘‘Lydia gives the impression outwardly of not taking the game too seriously, she’s relaxed on the golf course, unlike Tiger Woods who looks the exact opposite. She looks pretty relaxed and to me that’s the best way to play the game.’’
While Ko won a major, captured a silver medal at the Rio Olympics and retained the No 1 ranking, she struggled at the backend of the year compared to her usual high standards. Charles rates Leadbetter, who has worked with the likes of Nick Faldo and Ernie Els, highly having spent a session with him prior to winning the Tallahassee Open in 1983. But the 80-year-old is against drastic swing changes and says Leadbetter should never have altered Ko’s in the first place.
‘‘She’s enjoyed a lot of success without making a lot of swing changes and I don’t see why she needs to make any major adjustments to her swing,’’ he said. ‘‘Professional golfers are constantly tinkering with their games but I’m a great believer in self-reliance and that you don’t rely on a coach.