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No, Lydia Ko is not working with Sean Foley

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For LPGA golf sensation, Lydia Ko, having one high-profile golf instructor oversee her swing is definitely enough.

A pre-tournament press release issued today by the LPGA stated that Tiger Woods’ former coach, Sean Foley, was working alongside David Leadbetter and offering Ko guidance on her swing remotely using the V1 Sports video analysis software. According to Matthew Smith, Academy Coordinator at Leadbetter Golf Academies, Sean Foley has never worked with Ko, however. And Foley’s agent, Christopher Armstrong, tells GolfWRX that his client has never even met her.

In the release, Ko is quoted as saying, “I sent some swings to him video-wise. And he gave me some tips with Sean. So that is sort of like a good quick fix. I obviously haven’t seen him for a few weeks. I’d love for him to be onsite but it works for when he’s not here.”

It’s incredibly likely that Ko was referring to Sean Hogan, a Leadbetter disciple who resides in Orlando, Fla. It’s easy to understand how the mixup could have occurred, especially given Ko’s successful first year on tour.

Ko’s professional debut got off to an eventful start when she posted her announcement via a clever YouTube video poking fun at herself and the hoopla surrounding her decision to rescind her amateur status. Ko made even more headlines a year ago when she and her management team split from long-time coach Guy Wilson who guided her throughout her brilliant amateur career and would begin working with Leadbetter and Hogan.

In addition to parting with Wilson, who had been at her side since age five, Ko has had a busy year signing mega deals with Callaway and IMG, all the while auditioning multiple caddies (eight and counting) during her inaugural season on the LPGA tour.

Decisions of this magnitude, both on and off the course, could easily derail a seasoned professional, let alone a teenage phenom in hipster glasses, but Ko has handled everything with maturity and aplomb. Already this season, Ko has won twice on tour, finished inside the top-10 an additional nine times and has risen to third in the Rolex Ranking.

For anyone who was originally critical of Ko’s decision to work with Leadbetter, and by extension, Hogan, the results speak for themselves. Up next for Ko? A chance to finish the season on a high note. The LPGA Rookie of the Year award and Race to the CME Globe points race is still up for grabs.

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Rusty Cage is a contributing writer for GolfWRX, one of the leading publications online for news, information and resources for the connected golfer. His articles have covered a broad spectrum of topics - equipment and apparel reviews, interviews with industry leaders, analysis of the pro game, and everything in between. Rusty's path into golf has been an unusual one. He took up the game in his late thirties, as suggested by his wife, who thought it might be a good way for her husband to grow closer to her father. The plan worked out a little too well. As his attraction to the game grew, so did his desire to take up writing again after what amounted to 15-year hiatus from sports journalism dating back to college. In spite of spending over a dozen years working in the technology sector as a backend programmer in New York City, Rusty saw an opportunity with GolfWRX and ran with it. A graduate from Boston University with a Bachelor's in journalism, Rusty's long term aspirations are to become one of the game's leading writers, rising to the standard set by modern-day legends like George Peper, Mark Frost and Dan Jenkins. GolfWRX Writer of the Month: August 2014 Fairway Executive Podcast Interview http://golfindustrytrainingassociation.com/17-rusty-cage-golf-writer (During this interview I discuss how golf industry professionals can leverage emerging technologies to connect with their audience.)

3 Comments

3 Comments

  1. Tim

    Oct 24, 2014 at 5:31 am

    She didn’t split with her former coach, he is the new Zealand golf coach, and didn’t want to leave his family and job to travel the world for most of the year, which is what would have been required to continue the relationship. So they parted company amicably.

    • Rusty Cage

      Oct 24, 2014 at 9:07 am

      Tim,

      Directly from the USA Today article published on December 23, 2013:

      WELLINGTON, New Zealand (AP) — Teenage golf star Lydia Ko has split with the only coach she has had since she took up the sport as a 5-year-old.

      Guy Wilson, who has worked with the 16-year-old Ko for 11 years, issued a statement saying he was “incredibly disappointed” the partnership is over. Ko hasn’t publicly commented on the decision.

  2. marcel

    Oct 23, 2014 at 12:21 am

    Lydia had such a great swing and tons of talent that only difference would be damaging her swing. great work so far way to go!!!

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