Ko split a ‘head scratcher’
Lydia Ko’s latest split with a caddie has turned heads, but Gary Matthews believes he won’t be out of work for long.
Matthews, Ko’s caddie for her last nine events, and Ko have parted ways, Golfweek and Golf Channel in the United States report.
The 19-year-old’s management team confirmed the breakup to Golf Channel’s Randall Mell.
It comes hot off her best performance of 2017, when the Kiwi world No 1 women’s golfer finished second at the Lotte Championship over Easter.
Matthews has since retweeted supportive comments describing the split as a ‘head scratcher’ with ‘weird vibes’, which also backed the South African caddie to find work again.
For 10 of Ko’s 14 LPGA tour victories – and both majors – she had Australian Justin Hamilton as caddie. He was fired in October. Ko used seven different caddies – Michael Henderson, Scott Lubin, Mark Wallington, Steve Kay, Domingo Jojola, Mike ‘Fluff’ Cowan and Greg Johnson – during her rookie season.
Golfweek said Ko had yet to decide on a caddie for her next event, the Texas Shootout.
Ko has a bit of reputation when it comes to caddies. When the Kiwi was named Rookie of the Year in 2014, in her speech she thanked her bag carriers for that season.
‘‘I want to thank Scott, Mark, Steve, Steve, Domingo, Fluff, Greg, Jason.’’
She was still talking to potential caddie candidates, her team told Golf Channel.
This week, her stint at world No 1 hits 78 straight weeks, but her lead in world ranking points has been rapidly closed. Michael Henderson, Scott Lubin, Mark Wallington, Steve Kay, Domingo Jojola, Mike Cowan, Greg Johnson, Jason Hamilton, Gary Matthews.