LPGA to require players to speak English by 2009

Sports Digest

August 27, 2008

The LPGA Tour will require players to speak English starting in 2009, with players who have been members for two years facing suspension if they can't pass an oral evaluation of English skills. The rule is effective immediately for new players. "Why now? Athletes now have more responsibilities, and we want to help their professional development," deputy commissioner Libba Galloway said. "There are more fans, more media and more sponsors. We want to help our athletes as best we can succeed off the golf course as well as on it." There is no such rule on the PGA Tour. The LPGA held a mandatory meeting with South Koreans last Wednesday to inform them of the new policy, which was first reported by Golfweek magazine. There are 121 international players from 26 countries on the LPGA Tour, including 45 players from South Korea. The South Koreans were informed of the rule; however, LPGA commissioner Carolyn Bivens has not given them - or anyone - a written explanation, Galloway said.

Constellation Energy Senior Players Championship: Tom Kite, Bernhard Langer and Mark O'Meara will play in the event at Baltimore Country Club at Five Farms on Oct.9-12, the tournament announced yesterday. The Constellation Energy event is the final major championship of the 2008 Champions Tour season. Kite has 19 championships on the PGA Tour and 10 on the Champions Tour. He was inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame in 2002 and served as captain of the U.S. Ryder Cup team in 1997. Langer is the leading money winner on the 2008 Champions Tour and has twice won the Masters, in 1985 and 1993. O'Meara has won 16 times on the PGA Tour, including the 1998 Masters and British Open.

More golf: Wayne DeFrancesco defended his 2007 Mid-Atlantic PGA Senior Championship, shooting a two-day total of 7-under-par 137 to win by seven shots at the Country Club at Woodmore in Mitchellville. Bob Bilbo and Larry Ringer (144) tied for second.

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LPGA to require players to speak English by 2009

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LPGA to require players to speak English by 2009

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