LPGA Backs Down From English-Only Policy

Posted Sep 05, 2008 1:16PM By Shane Bacon (RSS feed)

Filed Under: Golf, LPGA

Well, that sure didn't take long. Ten days after the LPGA announced their plan to force players to speak English by the end of 2009, the tour has pulled back its guns.

The heavily criticized policy was to be put in place late in the season next year and penalize foreign players who failed to pass an English speaking exam. LPGA Tour commissioner Carolyn Bivens, fresh off a perfectly timed vacation, announced today that the policy will exclude penalties.

Bivens said Friday the tour would announce a revised plan by the end of the year. That plan would not include any penalties.

Bivens said there are other ways to achieve the tour's objective of ``supporting and enhancing the business opportunities for every tour player.''

This seemed to be inevitable, what with all the legal and discriminatory questions brought up, but the idea brought at least a little attention to a struggling professional sports organization. The whole idea was to allow sponsors to market better in an English heavy environment, but backfired when some current sponsors said they might pull out if this came to fruition.

It also probably didn't help the cause that the best female golfer in the world, Lorena Ochoa, spoke up against the policy.

Alas, the experiment failed miserably, so if you're planning on participating in a Pro-Am next year on the LPGA, it might, once again, just be about the golf.

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

9-05-2008 @ 2:19PM

dubbz3030 said...

Good. i said it before, Language has nothing to do with playing sports well. I dont care for LPGA, but no reason to hurt themselves. Imagine the NBA pulling something like this. No. because its retarded

9-06-2008 @ 2:39PM

Robert said...

Dunb Dumb if a player can not understand english how can he understand the rules or communicate with the Golf Association.

9-10-2008 @ 1:52PM

rob said...

this is an american tour - players should speak english. if the tournaments are broadcast in other countries - then they can use subtiltles.

9-05-2008 @ 6:04PM

dave said...

when the purses on the lpga continue to not keep pace with the growth in purses on the pga because corporate america isn't interested in a product that isn't connecting with the american public and american consumer , maybe the true long term merit to the lpga's attempt to grow their business and enhance their players income and success will be evident !! all players get the benefit of it but right now a miority contingent is impacting the growth rate and appeal level of the tour !!

9-05-2008 @ 5:51PM

mark said...

I think next time LPGA would say female player has to wear mini-skirt or bikini to play golf. Or some foreign players are too ugly and they need plastic surgery to get to play on tour.

9-05-2008 @ 6:16PM

dave rohlfing said...

having attended lpga events in the past i can tell you that i didn't see many corporate tents and the event brochure that lists sponsors and patrons of the event is much,much shorter than what happens on the pga and champions tour !! why is that ? what is lacking in the appeal factor of the lpga ?? that's a question i'd love to see addressed by the corporate sponsors !! why the dramatic disparity in money ?

9-06-2008 @ 12:14AM

Martin said...

If they want to increase the popularity of their sport, they need to require the players to wear bikinis. No one would watch women's beach volleyball if the players wore pant suits.

9-06-2008 @ 8:15AM

ken houser said...

I disagree with the LPGA reversal. I am not going to watch a bunch of oriental ladies plying golf in the USA. I would rather watch the weather channel.

9-06-2008 @ 3:35PM

TeeMup said...

Has anyone looked at tennis? It seems every player they interview regardless of nationality can speak passable English.

The LPGA was acting in a way to help promote the viability of their business which, by the way, provides the opportunity for those non-English speaking players to make a lot of money.

I am not in favor of any discriminatory practices but this policy I don't feel was discriminatory. Common sense should dictate to the players that they take it upon themselves and with the Tour's help, learn the English language. Everyone. including those who are fueling the Tour with money (i.e sponsors) will be better served.

9-07-2008 @ 9:51PM

golfrohlf said...

TeeMup....well said !!

9-06-2008 @ 5:33PM

may said...

Pay big money to play in a pro-am event and the pro can't speak english. I don't think so.

9-07-2008 @ 1:51AM

admit it....the truth is, lpga doesn't want to see non-white girls win on course.
this is the best way to stop those PARKs, KIMs, LEEs...coming.

9-08-2008 @ 7:10AM

orbmik said...

THE RULE WAS RACIST! Golf is an international game and if you play open tournaments anyone, speaking any langauge, may enter. If you want to only allow english speaking players then say so. Is this a way from keeping those Asian girls, who seem to be starting to dominate out? THAT IS RACIST TOO! Have an interperter available.