New Zealand's world golf number one Lydia Ko is to play her first tournament since splitting with her caddie of two years, Jason Hamilton.
Ko will have Gary Matthews on her bag for the last two events of the year, the first of which starts in Malaysia on Thursday.
Lydia Ko Photo: Photosport
Ko appears unfazed by comments by Tiger Woods' former caddie Steve Williams who said Ko had pushed the panic button too early by dropping Hamilton.
Ko, who has had just one top-five finish in her last five tournaments, said while she respected Williams' opinion she can't alter his views.
Hamilton told Golf Channel that Ko said to him, after the final round at the KEB HanaBank Championship, that she needed a "different set of eyes" with her.
Lydia Ko and Jason Hamilton together earlier this year. Photo: PHOTOSPORT
After using several caddies in her rookie year, Ko hired Hamilton before the Sime Darby LPGA Malaysia two years ago.
They won 10 LPGA titles and two major championships together. Hamilton is on Ha Na Jang's bag this week.
"I really think that some people might think I might have ended on bad terms with my former caddie, Jason," Ko said.
"But, no, I really enjoyed working with him ... It's been a lot of fun. But, you know, I think sometimes change is a good thing, and he's working with another great player. So all the best to that team, too."
Her coach David Leadbetter told RNZ earlier this month he didn't believe the change in caddy would upset Ko too much.
"She's been through this before. In her first year, if I'm not mistaken, she went through eight caddies before she found somone who she thought she would really get on with.
"So she will have a temporary caddy for the next three tournaments and then I think she's got her mind on somebody for next year and start afresh," he said.
