LPGA Rescinds "English Only" Rule
Women's Tour Removing Playing Penalties for International Players
Sep 8, 2008
On September 5, only a few days after LPGA Commissioner Carolyn Bivins issued a statement meant to clarify the Tour's English-speaking policy for international players, the LPGA has rescinded that very policy.
What had been mistakenly termed the "English Only" policy, was previously, according to Bivins, meant for the players' and the Tour's benefit. As Bivins stated, since the majority of the LPGA events were played in the United States, it was beneficial for international LPGA players to attain a minimal level of English fluency. Interaction with fans, the media, Pro-Am playing partners, and so on, would be enhanced should the players be able converse in English. According to Bivins, the rule, which penalized players who didn't conform, would be beneficial to players when it came to securing endorsements.
Regardless of the reasons, the language rule as it was is no more. Citing "valuable feedback from a variety of constituents," the LPGA has decided against a penalty-enforced language rule. After listening to the concerns of those constituents, the Tour now believes "there are other ways to achieve our shared objective of supporting and enhancing the business opportunities for every Tour player. In that spirit, we will continue communicating with our diverse Tour players to develop a better alternative."
Until the LPGA decides how to proceed, they have decided to operate under the Kolon-LPGA Cross Cultural Program. "That program provides all LPGA members with cross-cultural training in the form of tutors, translators, Rosetta Stone, which is the official language-learning system of the LPGA, as well as assistance from LPGA staff and consultants."
The LPGA will announce a revised approach to the language question, absent any playing penalties, by the end of 2008.
During the past decade or so, the LPGA Tour has had an influx of foreign-born players join its ranks. In recent years, the largest cultural group joining the Tour has been Asian players. So much so that a glance at the top-25 finishers after each tournament will reveal mostly Asian names. The most notable foreign players of the last decade have been Annika Sorenstam, Lorena Ochoa and Se Ri Pak. Sorenstam, Ochoa and Pak each speak English and are quite fluent. Many other players have not done so, which is the reason for the current, and certainly continuing problem.
Certainly, many LPGA players, fans and media were against a rule requiring English skills, especially one that imposed penalties for non-compliance. If there's is a problem with the language barriers, there may not be a way to codify a solution that pleases everyone.
Sources: LPGA; Golf Business Wire.
