New Zealand's Ko needs break from golf, says Leadbetter

Golf - Women's British Open - Royal Lytham & St Annes Golf Club, Lytham Saint Annes, Britain - August 4, 2018 New Zealand's Lydia Ko in action during the third round Action Images via Reuters/Jason Cairnduff

(Reuters) - Lydia Ko needs a break from golf to take stock of her career but if she wants to return to the peak of the women's game she has to free herself of her parents' influence, the New Zealander's former coach David Leadbetter has said.

Ko, who as a 17-year-old became the youngest player to hold the world No. 1 ranking, has slipped to 24th in the world and missed the cut at the women's British Open this month after finishing with a 12-over-par 156 for her two rounds.