This is very simple...the LPGA relies on sponsors and it's athletes being able to interact with those sponsors and the fans. If the athletes can't carry a conversation in the native language of the United States LPGA tour, then neither of the above relationships will occur and the league will financially fail. This rule, while I don't agree with the implementation process (it is pretty hard to become conversant in a new language in 4 months) or the penalty for failing to comply, is necessary for the the leagues success.

I agree. I don't see anything too wrong with this rule, look at tennis; the matches are played worldwide and most of the players know how to speak English.

Wow. I couldnt become conversant in Korean by 2009 if you gave me a hundred tutors. LOL

Good rule. If an American makes her living playing golf successfully in France, she should learn French so she can deal with their media for interviews. Makes sense to me.

Hmmm, I did not know that the LPGA was run by theKKK.

Hmmm, I did not know that the LPGA was run by theKKK.
Greco-Roman (Oh yeah, Baby!) | 08/27/08, 09:31 AM
Report Offensive Comment

Wow...you could have provided just as much to this forum if you had just burped...

People are missing the point. It is NOT about "if you want to play in our country, learn the language!".

If a leagues star players can't interact with sponsors and fans, the league will fail...plain and simple.

If a leagues star players can't interact with sponsors and fans, the league will fail...plain and simple.

hvyhttr | 08/27/08, 09:41 AM
Report Offensive Comment

agreed...Wednesday / Thursday pro-am's are a big part of the marketing strategy of pro golf (all tours). If your product (players) cannot effectively communicate your brands message..... you fail...

The problem with this rule was the way the LPGA put it out there. They could have held a news conference and answered questions about it or put out a press release about it.

Instead, they leaked the story to a golf magazine "Golfweek" and let them put it on their website. That made the whole thing look sneaky and underhanded.

I think the fans, sponsors and media what to connect directly with stars like Ji-Yai Shin and Inbee Park and that means the stars have to speak English.

LPGA is just trying to survive. They're ususally better at dissiminating information.

This is 100% horse****.

I hope the Koreans and everybody else sue Bivens six ways from Christmas.

Nobody complains if Angel Cabrera can't speak a word of English?

This is a bull**** ruling specifically aimed at the Koreans BECAUSE THEY DOMINATE THE LPGA.

That makes as much sense as banning Tiger Woods because he is black.

This is going to get shoved down Biven's stupid throat.

I'd like to see the equally stupid Tim Finchem try this on the men's tour.

First of all the PGA doesn't have problems with sponsors and the vast majority of players on the tour speak English.

This is 100% horse****.

I hope the Koreans and everybody else sue Bivens six ways from Christmas.

Nobody complains if Angel Cabrera can't speak a word of English?

This is a bull**** ruling specifically aimed at the Koreans BECAUSE THEY DOMINATE THE LPGA.

That makes as much sense as banning Tiger Woods because he is black.

This is going to get shoved down Biven's stupid throat.

I'd like to see the equally stupid Tim Finchem try this on the men's tour.
Jonisagolffan | 08/27/08, 10:31 AM
Report Offensive Comment

You are correct in saying this is aimed at the Koreans because they dominate the LPGA. The LPGA wants them in the organization because they are the best in the world. They need them to speak English so that those "best in the world players" will have an LPGA tour to play in. I would be willing to bet that most of the players affected understand the situation and will make a best effort to learn the language. Please note, Se Ri Pak agrees with the ruling....

There is no way this goes to court unless someone makes an effort to learn the language, fails to become conversant, and is suspended....but I don't see that happening.

To everyone saying this is a bad idea, you need to look at it like this. These ladies are over here working in the USA, so there fore should have to speak english. I live in Texas and can go to a Burger King and not understand a word of what the person behind the counter is saying, because their Hispanic accent is so thick. BUT, THEY ARE AT LEAST TRYING TO LEARN ENGLISH. If your going to work here and or live here then you need to speak English, because as far as i know the USA ia an ENGLISH speaking country!

Jonis...this is a typical answer I would expect from you...comparing apples to oranges. First...the PGA Tour is neither dominated nor has the ratio of foreign players that can't speak english like the LPGA does - FACT. Second...the PGA Tour is not experiencing the loss sponsors to the point they will be in a financial bind like the LPGA...FACT.

The way I see it...the foreign born players are here to make a living, a much better one than they can make elsewhere...otherwise they would still be there playing on their own tours. If you think they are here for just the competition...think again. Money talks and if the sponsors want to interact with players that apeak english, then so be it. Bivins didn't come up with this out of thin air...it was pretty much forced on her by the the sponsors...

If you're such a bright guy and a fan as your name suggests, then you would know that Angel Cabrera's last TV interview was condusted in english...while it's still a pretty broken, he is learning the language. He knows where his money is coming from.

I've been reading your crap about Tiger for the better part of the last 6 months and I have say that, in my adult life, I have never heard a more rediculous child like comparison than the one you just made.

While Tiger isn't the game,..the game has never been in as good shape financially than it is now and Tiger has a tremendous amount to do with that. The TV ratings have dropped substantially since his injury...the numbers don't lie. His being black doesn't interfere with his ability to interact with or promote sponsors...again apples to oranges.

Get a life and realize that the dollars rule the professional game...without the sponsors...no money...no tour. It's survival pal...stop being so stupid.

To everyone saying this is a bad idea, you need to look at it like this. These ladies are over here working in the USA, so there fore should have to speak english. I live in Texas and can go to a Burger King and not understand a word of what the person behind the counter is saying, because their Hispanic accent is so thick. BUT, THEY ARE AT LEAST TRYING TO LEARN ENGLISH. If your going to work here and or live here then you need to speak English, because as far as i know the USA ia an ENGLISH speaking country!
BEAST! | 08/27/08, 11:23 AM
Report Offensive Comment

Working here in the US is not the same w/ this rule. LPGA is international. It's okay to say that English is the official language but to force them to learn English is being prejudice. What if the LPGA is held in France. Is France required to require all LPGA players to speak French? It does not make sense. The LPGA is making a big deal out of something that is not in their control and therefore prejudice other races. The best way for them to approach this would be to talk to each individual players and explain to them that it would be in everybody's best interest if they would learn how to speak English. Enforcing it to them gives a negative impact to the public.

Hmmm, I did not know that the LPGA was run by theKKK.
Greco-Roman (Oh yeah, Baby!) | 08/27/08, 09:31 AM
Report Offensive Comment

Wow...you could have provided just as much to this forum if you had just burped...

hvyhttr | 08/27/08, 09:36 AM
Report Offensive Comment

{bigot} {bigot}

How's them burps?

Golf is pretty much a world-wide sport. Since when is English the official language of the world?

{fart}

i didn't know speaking english made you a better golfer. they are paid to golf.
i find it hard to believe thier ratings will increase when the lady's learn to speak better english.

It has nothing to do with ratings. All of you get off your liberal high-horses...


I am sure there had probably been a behind the scenes push to have the players learn english for a while. My guess is that a few of the star foreigners have refused to do so...

The LPGA is, and has been, stuggling to survive for a long time. Securing sponsorship is what keeps these tours going. This is a effort to generate more income for the tour. If they generate more income for the tour, these foreigners can say "thank you" in English when their winnings get bigger too.

You can't compare a team sport (Yao or Ichiro example from above) to that of golf. Whole cities, states, regions get behind a TEAM and purchase apparal (revenue) and such. Regions don't buy Cory Pavin or Paula Creamer shirts...and even if they did, they are not branded by the LPGA...and that equals no revenue for them.

The ONLY way a golf tour can exist is with sponsors...period. If their stars can't relate to sponsors, their tour will cease to exist.

Get past the fact that this will make a few people open a book or purchase the Rosetta Stone software (the first Korean to learn English with that software has a great opportunity for endorsements...).

It is no different than NFL/NBA rookies having to go through rookie orientation to learn how not to be a thug (and I don't mean just black people...so don't go there) any more...If players act like thugs, the league can't market them...

This is no different...if the players can't communicate with the money, the money will go elsewhere...

Good point: this is about the money. And I bet that if the top players in the world spoke little or nor english, they would continue to play in the LPGA, even if they refused to learn english or more of it, because that is what the fans would want! The fans want to see the best players in the world! No sport can exist without fans.

Good point: this is about the money. And I bet that if the top players in the world spoke little or nor english, they would continue to play in the LPGA, even if they refused to learn english or more of it, because that is what the fans would want! The fans want to see the best players in the world! No sport can exist without fans.

Greco-Roman (Oh yeah, Baby!) | 08/27/08, 04:48 PM
Report Offensive Comment

G/R - you are right, it is about money, but not the way you are stating. It's about being able to communicate with the sponsors, the players partners in the Wednesday pro-am's. If those sponsors are frustrated, no tournaments, no tournaments, no TV, no revenue.... all starts with the money folks willing to pony up and sponsor the tournaments...

I spoke to a friend who works for a major sponsor and actually plays in these Pro-Ams with the ladies. Sponsors are not going to hold back money because the ladies don't speak English, a translator is fine. These sponsor guys (99% are guys) see this as a treat and a way to entertain clients, or as a deserved perk and will not withhold sponsorship because the ladies can't converse in English. It's more about the popularity, ratings and attendance that sponsors take advantage of. If the Koreans are hurting the popularity it's not because they can't speak English it's because they're Korean. This is just an LPGA smokescreen to cover the real problem, America doesn't want to see a bunch of Koreans that have the same sounding names win most of the prize money. Unless of course they are all HOT and ONE of them is Tiger-like in domination. But they aren't and there is no ONE dominant player. So the speak English rule is the only thing they could think up to limit the Koreans from playing, they are also probably afraid of the potential for the Chinese joining in the future. But I guess you gotta do something to survive, those ratings aren't going up.