The problem is that the LPGA is bordering on failure. They can't attract sponsors and their spectator demographic is overwhelmingly English-speaking. The sponsors are overwhelmingly from English-speaking countries. This move, while initially may seem discriminatory, is the association's attempt to right the ship and stay afloat.

It doesn't do any of these golfers a damned bit of good if the entire association goes under because sponsors don't feel they're getting their *massive* advertising expenditures returned because the spectators don't identify with the athletes in any way. It's a tough call but I can see why they made it.

Again, before we start crying about discrimination, let's look at the facts and realize that the LPGA is a business. Sure, they could be politically correct and keep the status quo and possibly fail because of it. What fucking good does that do those people who lost their jobs, sponsors, or tournament monies? I guess they could console themselves in the fact that no one was offended by their former employer while they go look for work elsewhere.

The LPGA is a business, and last I checked the players are essentially "employees" and are there competing of their own free will. So if they don't want to speak English, then get the hell out.

Their business, their rules. You can cry and whine about discrimination all you want but at the end of the day the LPGA can set their own rules and policies just like any other business, if you don't like it then tough.

I still want the USA to standardize a language... sorry I dont want to press 1 for Engish when this country was founded to speak American English!

The point is that while it is based in the USA, it is an international body. There is also no other way for a female player to make any kind of living playing outside of LPGA events. Lastly, your ability to put on a good show, in other words play good golf, is in no way dependant of your ability to speak english. EDIT: And I don't think a "players association" considers its players to be employees. Think of it like a Union and they are members.

Yeah they're a business and they're free to do whatever, but I think that this decision will hurt them by pissing off foreign players (the best ones), and that might hurt their relationships with their sponsors more than help them.

Most of the best players are fully supporting this initiative. Many of them already speak English.

It's not as if the LPGA is throwing international players out on their asses. They're hiring tour tutors to help the non-English players for no charge. Overall, I don't know if this will help them gain back viewership (I really don't know enough about their problems), but I won't fault them for trying something different and I'm sure as shit not going to scream "Discrimination!" without reading more about the situation.

First and foremost, they are a business. Most of their business comes from the English-speaking world. I won't fault them for trying to keep their business profitable and trying to cater to their core demographic.

For the record, I was not screaming "Discrimination" I was just pointing out that English proficiency has no relation to golfing ability and that they are in the golfing business. If their English requirements means they lose possible talents (who cannot or will not learn English), then that is to the detriment of their sport.

It would be like a book publisher saying I will not publish your masterpiece because you are not good enough at golf. It is a business, so they are free to do it, but is it in the best interest of their business to look beyond the lack of golfing skill? Yes.

I wasn't pointing the discrimination finger at you, Dogs.

As for the publisher analogy, it's entirely reasonable for them to ask you to play golf if your book is being financed by a group of tycoons who want to play golf with you on weekends. That's a more appropriate comparison. The LPGA is losing touch with their fanbase and sponsors and they feel this is a way to bring everyone closer together. Will it work? I don't know. But, again, I won't fault them for trying.

Wait, they're paying for the tutors?

That changes everything.