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I am pretty tough on immigrants to the US learning English. But I have to wonder about how much English does a player in a tournament need to have. What difficulties does non-English speaking cause? Can't the player bring a translator?

LPGA backs down on English-only rule

Published: September 05, 2008

(AP) — The LPGA Tour's "mea culpa" didn't need much translation.

Facing anger from lawmakers and bewilderment from sponsors, the LPGA Tour backed off plans to suspend players who cannot speak English well enough to be understood at pro-ams, in interviews or in making acceptance speeches at tournaments in the United States.
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Earlier this week, Bivens sent a 1,200-word memo to the LPGA membership to outline the goal behind the new policy. She said players would never be required to be fluent or even proficient in English, but rather would be asked to get by with the basics of the language.

She argued that international players who could communicate effectively in English would improve the pro-am experience, sponsor relations and could help land endorsements for the players.

"We do not, nor will we ever, demand English fluency, or even proficiency, from our international players," she wrote. "To the contrary, we are asking that they demonstrate a basic level of communication in English at tournaments in the United States in situations that are essential to their job as a member of the LPGA Tour."

Yee said he understood the tour's goal of boosting financial support, but disagreed with the method.

http://www.golf.com/golf/tours_news/article/0,28136,1839072,00.html

"In 2008, I didn't think an international group like the LPGA would come up with a policy like that," Yee said. "But at the end of the rainbow, the LPGA did understand the harm that they did."

I am reminded of PGA Tour v. Casey Martin in which the Supreme Court ruled that the use of golf carts was indeed allowable for disabled persons during a tour because, as the court reasoned, "golf is not really a sport." Or something like that.

So, if, according to the supreme court of the USA, golf is not a technically a sport and therefore a player may use a golf cart - surely a player need not know English; and as you suggested he/she may have a translator.

Wow, who knew that the members of S.O.D. retired from a lucrative hate metal career to become LPGA board members.

I would think you only need to know "Fore!"

And assuming you win, you have to know how to say "I would like to thank God and Jesus, for through him all things are possible!"

Or something like that...