Lydia Ko Makes Multiple Changes Heading into 2017

Lydia Ko may be the number one golfer on the women’s tour going into the 2017 LPGA season but that didn’t stop her from making multiple changes. Not only did Ko decide to make a major equipment change, she also decided to go with a new caddie for the season.

Very excited and honored to be part of the #PXGTroops !!! #PXG #Proud pic.twitter.com/4RKh7wMlL3

— Lydia Ko (@LydiaKo) January 3, 2017

The 19-year-old, Austrailian born golfer announced that she will be switching her clubs heading into this season, moving away from Callaway Golf in favor of PXG clubs. For making this switch and endorsing PXG, Ko will pick up a contract worth $14.5 million dollars.

Ko sounded excited to begin the season with the new clubs, telling Golfweek that, “It almost feels good because I’m like a rookie again, and I’m starting fresh.” This was also more than a business decision for Ko as she said that, “No matter what it is business-wise, it needs to perform well. I think that’s the most important thing.” So this decision wasn’t only about the money for Ko, as she is confident that the PXG clubs will perform at a high level.

If you are not familiar with PXG (Parsons Xtreme Golf), it is a relatively new brand founded by Bob Parsons in 2014. Since its founding, PXG has earned endorsements from many golfers, including former major champions Zach Johnson and Charl Schwartzel. The clubs are built to be high performance and command a premium price on the open market, with PXG irons retailing for around $5,000. Adding Ko to their team looks to drastically improve the company’s credibility across the international community.

The new endorsement was not the only move that Ko made this week, as she also tabbed Gary Matthews to caddie for her this season, replacing her former caddie Jason Hamilton. Matthews caddied for Ko in a few tournaments to end the 2016 season and she has decided to stick with him full-time.

Matthews comes into his partnership with Ko after working with some of the best players on the PGA Tour. In the past, Matthews has worked with Sergio Garcia, Jason Dufner, and Adam Scott. Working with some of the best minds in the game of golf, Matthews will be able to use his experience to help take Ko to the next level.

These are big changes for the number one golfer on the LPGA Tour and while they look like they could end up being beneficial for her, only time will tell if these changes will help Ko keep up her dominance in 2017.

Cover Image via Flickr