LPGA says "Learn English or leave." Rough.

From Sports Anchor Rafer Weigel

The LPGA is venturing into uncharted waters—making all of its players learn English if they want to play golf. Starting next year, players will go through an “oral evaluation” and unless they can carry on a "reasonable" conversation in English, they’ll be suspended.

LPGA players who don't speak English could find themselves in the rough.

Sound crazy? Maybe a little. Can you imagine the PGA doing this? Last year's U.S. Open winner Angel Cabrera wouldn’t have been hoisting the trophy.

The tour says the mandate is about improving communication with the players and helping them succeed on and off the course, especially in terms of earning endorsements for themselves and the tour.

The sad reality for the LPGA is that it's losing sponsors. Their most marketable star, Annika Sorenstan—who’s Swedish by the way and speaks perfect English—is retiring. They’re looking for replacements.

Many of the LPGA’s 121 players are from countries outside the US. 46 are from South Korea and some of them say they feel that they’re being unfairly targeted.

The tournament is not coming out and saying this, but it appears that this is about … money. If you can’t speak English, you’re not marketable in America.

But South Korean Seon Hwa Lee, the only Asian with multiple victories this year, agrees with the decision. She’s even hired an English tutor because she wants more sponsorship opportunities.

“The economy is bad, and we are losing sponsors,” Lee said. “Everybody understands.”

But while it’s a good suggestion, can the tournament demand the players know how to speak English? And if they don’t, is suspending them a bit harsh? If that happens, how do you get your suspension lifted? If you don’t currently know English are you going to be able to learn it in two months?

Is this American arrogance or just good business?

Let us know what you think.