Women’s world No.1 Lydia Ko is shaking things up in 2017, after announcing a raft of changes to her equipment and her backroom team.
The 19-year-old New Zealander has left Callaway to become a staff player for high-end equipment brand Parsons Xtreme Golf, while she has also left FootJoy and signed a new deal to wear Ecco Golf shoes.
Ko, who has won 18 times since turning professional in 2014, including two majors, will join a team of growing number of female PXG tour pros that comprises fellow new signings Brittany Lang, Christina Kim and Ryann O’Toole, along with previous staff players Cristie Kerr, Alison Lee, Sadena Parks, Gerina Piller and Beatriz Recari.
Ko said: “When I first hit PXG’s clubs I was extremely impressed by how they felt. They felt solid and the performance was … wow! No matter what it is business-wise, my equipment needs to perform well – that’s the most important thing.”
PXG founder Bob Parsons said: “This year PXG is looking at golf and the tour from a global perspective. In 2016, we saw remarkable growth in international sales, but we recognise that we have only scratched the surface. Tour validation is important, and the ladies tour is wildly popular in many countries. We had five exceptional ladies on staff in 2016, and this year that number has grown to nine. These players, as well as our top-notch PGA Tour pros, will help us bring PXG’s unmatched technology to passionate golfers around the globe.”
Ko will also be competing in new footwear for 2017, following the signing of a multi-year contract with Danish brand ECCO. She will be wearing the company’s new Biom G2 model and showcasing the company’s logo on her collar.
“I’m thrilled to be joining the ECCO Golf family and can’t wait to start competing in the ECCO shoe,” said Ko. “ECCO Golf has such an outstanding reputation in the women’s game. As soon as I began testing their new products, I knew there was only one shoe brand I could compete in moving forward,” said Ko.
Jesper Thuen, global sponsorship manager at ECCO Golf, said: “What Lydia has achieved since turning professional just a few years ago is nothing short of astonishing. We couldn’t be more excited to have her representing the ECCO Golf brand. We have no doubt that she’ll continue achieving great things in the women’s game, and we look forward to being a part of her journey.”
Ko has also made some changes to her backroom staff in recent weeks, ending a two-year coaching relationship with David Leadbetter in December, while she also has a new caddy, ditching long-time bagman Jason Hamilton, with whom she won 10 tournaments, for Gary Matthews, whom she teamed up with for two events at the end of last season.
Ko is scheduled to play her first tournament of the year at the Women’s Australian Open in mid-February.