I guess women's pro golf...

...isn't really a sport after all. This is shameful:

The LPGA is "targeting" Korean golfers with its "crazy" English-first policy.

Those are some of the harsh reactions from Canadian Tour players gearing up for this week's Seaforth Country Classic northwest of London.

Beginning next year, LPGA golfers will be required to speak English, and those who have been members for two years will face suspension if they can't pass an oral test.

"They're really targeting the Koreans," said Dong Yi, a 30-year-old Korean-American who lives in Phoenix. "They're dominating the LPGA. They're getting the TV time, they're getting the interviews.

"The bottom line: It's a golf tour, not a public-speaking tour. I think they're making a mistake. They want sponsorship dollars and a lot of it comes from Asia."

DIVERSE CROWD

LPGA numbers show there 121 international players on tour -- including 45 from South Korea -- representing 26 countries. The LPGA sees the policy as necessary due to the diversity of its golfers.

"Why now? Athletes now have more responsibilities and we want to help their professional development," said deputy commissioner Libba Galloway told The Associated Press...

This Ottawa Sun editorial is bang-on.

Mark C.

Damian adds: can anyone imagine the NHL or Major League Baseball - or even the major European soccer leagues, with their heavily nationalistic fan bases - adopting a rule like this? It's like they're trying to keep the best players in the world away.

Update: I wonder what the LPGA would do if Lorena Ochoa spoke only Spanish.

Posted by markc at August 28, 2008 10:04 AM