Whether "or not you agree" with New Zealand golfer Lydia Ko's "decision to axe the only coach she's ever had, Aucklander Guy Wilson," for U.S.-based "Brit David Leadbetter, the timing is off, it was poorly handled, and we can only hope this is not how Ko is going to operate under the management of IMG," according to Fred Woodcock of FAIRFAX NZ NEWS. Under the headline, "Lydia Ko's switch proves PR disaster," Woodcock wrote, "There are so many unanswered questions surrounding this coaching switch -- Why now? Who made the call? Is IMG behind this? (to pose just a few) -- but nobody is willing to answer them." Ko conducted one TV interview and, "let's be honest, TV news clips are more about getting grabs than getting to the bottom of stories." It has "led to a whole lot of speculation and some quite emotional responses from fans on social media and talkback radio." IMG reportedly claimed that the story has been "blown out of proportion" and dramatized. Well, "whose fault is that? They have a reputation for being the biggest and best management company when it comes to golf but judging by this, it's hard to agree." Rightly "or wrongly, Wilson has essentially been pushed off Hillary Step with the summit to Mt Everest in clear sight" (FAIRFAX NZ NEWS, 12/28).
