When we heard about the LPGA’s “English-only” rule, we were kind of left scratching our heads.
Apparently using the sex appeal of players like Anna Rawson and Natalie Glubis to sell a women’s sport wasn’t working, so they decided to go against what most leagues do and antagonize international players into speaking English to promote the sport. Not only that, but they’ve got their number one player, Mexican Lorena Ochoa, wondering aloud if they’ve gone too far.

She was asked at a charity event in her hometown of Guadalajara on Tuesday if she thought the new policy discriminated against international players.

“That is a a very strong word. I wouldn’t want to use it,” said Ochoa, who speaks English. “But I do think it is a little drastic.”

The LPGA will require players to speak English during pro-ams, trophy presentations and media interviews starting in 2009, with players who have been LPGA members for two years facing suspension if they can’t pass an oral evaluation of English skills.

Man, count us as one of the people who would have the most profane example of our “English skills” during the examination. It would start somewhere with “You want an oral exam?…” and end with “… stick your trophy.”

Lorena Ochoa criticizes LPGA English rule [Sporting News]
Image [latino-talk.com]