With all due respect, how does it change everything? (Maybe you are kidding) Instead of focusing on their games, the foreign players have to worry about having English proficiency. None of these women are poor (by the time they have made it to the LPGA), so they can afford it themselves really.

@Rocketpig

I understand your point about not wanting to alienate the English fanbase, but I think sacrificing the (at most) 20% who would refuse to watch foreign non-English speaking players in order to possibly greatly expand your world wide visibility.

@anyone

Can you name any other professional sports in the USA that  puts speaking English above talent? I don't think such a rule exists in any other sport. And unlike sports like the NBA, NHL and NFL which are NA only, the LPGA is very international so they should be MORE open.

I don't think it's so much about viewership as it is sponsorship. The two are related and I can understand a sponsor's hesitancy to give money to a tour full of non-English speaking players when the vast majority of their clientele come from English-speaking countries.

Again, I have no idea if this will work (but I have the feeling it won't). My point is that I'm not going to criticize the LPGA for doing what they think is best for the organization.