Personally I prefer watching the women over the men but, while controversial, the language thing was due to come. All of the Asians on tour, unfortunately, seem to be the same - no emotion, robot like, and unfriendly. While there are a few exceptions most fall into the categories above.
At least with a Paula Creamer there is personality and emotion. Lorena Ochoa is one where English isn't her native language but she tries and is very hard not to root for and like.
Obviously many of the Asians (mostly Koreans) need some time to acclimate to a new culture and a new language but some just don't show any interest in trying.
I had a friend call me after one girl won one of the majors and he said she showed no excitement, happiness, etc.
With all of the international players the LPGA should be very interesting but I think with the lack of language skills and emotionless display, it is turning off a lot of viewers and sponsors. With the bad economy you have to go the extra mile if you want to succeed.
Hopefully most of the players realize this would be in their best interest since it would open up a larger pool of endorsements to them.
------------------------------------------------
Rich,
All good points.
-- Bill O.

Rich

While it's obviously politically incorrect, it's still a great idea. Here's reality... women's golf isn't a big ratings draw to begin with. The women's tour, like any other sport or entertainment medium, needs exposure, TV ratings, advertising, etc. to thrive. When so many of your "star" performers can't speak a word of English, and look to avoid interviews in general, you're not pandering to the viewing public. That hurts ratings, which in turn hurts advertising revenue. And like it or not, Americans aren't going to learn Korean just to be better fans of someone... :)

Yes, yes. I approve [ big time.]

If the LPGA spent more time and effort developing golf programs for girls in the U.S., then the tour would have more top-ranked American players. In the meantime, the rule is absurd and petty. Bevins comes across as a sore loser.

The ESLPGA had to do something. Nobody's home.
oh ....English Speaking Ladies Professional Golf Association

How rude! It can't be long before a lawyer gets involved and the ESLPGA has to back down and change their stance. Basic employment and worker rights laws allow workers to speak their own language at the workplace. I see the intent...but you can't go there.

Story from my nephew Scott. He was managing a restaurant in NYC where the servers were all Salvadorans and the the bus persons were Cambodian. There was a dispute between the two camps and Scott had to step in and quell the brouhaha. He separated the parties who were railing against each other in their native tongues. Finally Scott had to shout them down with this quote, "This is America ... Speak Spanish!"

As someone who works in the golf industry, I can tell you that there are several reasons behind this push. One, of course, is that it benefits the events if the winners can give their little victory speeches in English. Another is that the players are better served if they can converse with rules officials and their fellow players during their rounds.

However, the real driving force behind this is coming from the tournaments' sponsors. Specifically, they want all the players to be able to converse at least rudimentally with the amateurs they're paired with in the pro-ams that raise so much money for the LPGA events and charities.

If people pay $1,000 or more to play in an LPGA pro-am, they rightfully expect to be able to interact with the professional player in their group – that's the primary reason these folks pay up to play, so they can get a few tips and later be able to tell their friends that so-and-so told them x and y. If they're limited to a handshake on the first tee and the 18th green, they're not likely to pay up to do it again next year.

Personally, I believe this new policy is too harsh and has the potential of becoming a real PR black eye for the LPGA Tour. In their defense, however, I will point out that for years the LPGA has offered assistance to foreign players who want to learn English – including providing them with Rosetta Stone software – and that most of the foreign players pick up a basic working knowledge of English within a few years of making the Tour. ------------------------------------------- Joe, Thanks for the contribution, especially about how this would impact the pro-am participation. I would have never thought about that. -- Bill O.