‘Let Her Fly’: After Parting Ways With Lydia Ko, Her Former Coach Accused Her Parents’ ‘Unbelievable Ignorance’ As the Reason for the LPGA Star’s Career Downfall in 2019

It won’t be an exaggeration to say that Lydia Ko is currently the most celebrated player on the LPGA Tour. After winning the 2022 season-end tournament held at Tiburon Golf Club in Florida, she became the world no. 1 golfer. Although Ko has showcased some incredible golf since she turned professional, there have been days, even years, in which she failed to get good outcomes. And according to one of her former coaches, her parents are the main reason for all the failures she had in her career. 

The 25-year-old has changed her coaches and caddies numerous times throughout her career, one of her trainers being David Leadbetter. And according to Golf Digest, he revealed why her career went downhill from 2017 to 2019 when he appeared as a guest on New Zealand’s Radio Sport.

Leadbetter claimed the LPGA Tour player’s parents made her career worse

Leadbetter was not Ko’s coach when she faced the lump in her career. She could win only a title from 2017 to 2019 when the New Zealand radio interviewed him. And being her trainer from November 2013 to December 2016, Leadbetter claimed that the main problem in her career is her parents. 

“Her parents have a lot to answer for… a case of unbelievable ignorance,” he said on Radio Sport. According to him, they control everything that goes on in the 2-time major champion’s life. “They tell her when to go to bed, what to eat,” Leadbetter continued, “what to wear, when to practice and what to practice.” 

Read more: ‘What Am I Meant to Do…’: Lydia Ko’s Mom Still Keeps Her Humble With Her Sharp Remarks

He also claimed that Lydia Ko’s parents put a lot of pressure on her. “They expect her to win every tournament,” he said. Furthermore, he said, “they need to let her go, let her fly,” Leadbetter added, “let her leave the nest so to speak, and find her own way.” 

Who are the parents of Lydia Ko? 

Ko Gil-hong and Hyeon Bong-sook are the parents of the current world no. 1. Several reports about the family suggest the couple were born in South Korea and moved to New Zealand when Lydia and her sister were young. 

Since the two don’t enjoy the limelight, there isn’t much information available about them. However, David Leadbetter had once, before his 2019 interview with Radio Star, referred to her father as a “non-accomplished golfer.” 

Notably, when Leadbetter was Ko’s coach, her LPGA Tour profile shows that she has won more than plenty of events. And as a coach who has found success with Lydia Ko, he believed he knew what made her face a career setback.

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