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The LPGA says its members will be required to speak English or they will face suspension from the tour.
It is a direct reaction to the influx – and success – of South Korean players, of whom there are more than 40 on the tour, many of whom speak little or no English.
It is the tour's way of dealing with a delicate problem – sponsors and fans have trouble relating to players who speak little or no English – but it comes across as xenophobic.
Baseball doesn't make its Hispanic players learn to speak English.
The LPGA Tour is in an uncomfortable spot. If you're asked to put up several thousand dollars to play in an LPGA pro-am, do you want to play with someone you can't talk with?
At the same time, the LPGA is going more international, playing in South Korea, Japan, Singapore and other countries. There seems to be a touch of hypocrisy involved.
Yes, the LPGA Tour should encourage its players to speak English. In this case, though, the LPGA should be encouraging rather than demanding.
