Few events in LPGA history have caused the stir that their proposed English-or-else policy did last week. The women's tour decided that it didn't need that kind of publicity and today rescinded it before it ever really got started.
You know the details by now: Any player who does not learn to speak effective English within two years gets suspended.
Many of our readers have sent in very insightful, reasoned responses. And a great many of those supported the LPGA, which I did not. But as I said in a column the day the story broke, I basically agree with you and the tour. Having players who cannot communicate is an immense problem for a tour that needs every bit of communication and recognition and audience-connection it can get.
You made good points in saying that the LPGA is a business and it has to do what it can to survive. You also have a point when you say that international players benefit greatly from playing in the U.S.--note the story in today's Wall Street Journal about the plummeting South Korean currency--so they ought to do whatever they can to promote their game, their tour and their own personalities.
And I agree, and have said, that the LPGA is an open-minded outfit.
On top of all that, I can understand why LPGA honchos are up in arms about all the negative spin from people who normally wouldn't give a second thought to women's golf. I get perplexed when non-hockey commentators parachute in to moralize when there's a stick-swinging incident.
Having said all that, though, I will add that the LPGA sometimes has a tin ear for public relations. It did not help at all that commissioner Carolyn Bivens was out of pocket when this story broke. Her deputy had to handle the fallout. When Bivens first took over, she created a firestorm with restrictions (also later rescinded) about covering her tour.
The big problem many of us had with this was the penalty. Suspending someone for not speaking English is too harsh. Fining them, massive amounts if need be, would--and will--be much better.