LPGA Backs Down: "관심사를 들어서 후에, 우리는 각 투어 선수를 위한 사업 기회 지원하고 강화하는의 우리의 공동 목적을 달성하는 다른 방법이 다는 것을 믿는다."
According to the AP story, the death of the penalty provisions for not passing an English exam came two hours before a press conference and a day after a California lawmaker started raising serious questions.
Here's the statement from the Commish:
Statement credited to LPGA Commissioner Carolyn F. Bivens regarding the LPGA's policy on effective communication in English
The LPGA has received valuable feedback from a variety of constituents regarding the recently announced penalties attached to our effective communications policy. We have decided to rescind those penalty provisions.
After hearing the concerns, we believe there are other ways to achieve our shared objective of supporting and enhancing the business opportunities for every Tour player. In that spirit, we will continue communicating with our diverse Tour players to develop a better alternative. The LPGA will announce a revised approach, absent playing penalties, by the end of 2008.
During that time we will continue to provide support under the three-year-old Kolon-LPGA Cross Cultural Program. This popular program provides all LPGA members with the best cross-cultural training in the form of tutors, translators, Rosetta Stone®, the official language-learning system of the LPGA, as well as assistance from LPGA staff and consultants.
And for our Korean-speaking readers...
계산서는 LPGA 감독관에게 Carolyn F. 신용했다. 영어로 효과적인 커뮤니케이션에 LPGA의 정책에 대하여 Bivens는
우리의 효과적인 커뮤니케이션 정책에 붙어 있던 최근에 알려진 형벌에 대하여 다양한 성분에서 LPGA 귀중한 의견을 받았다. 우리는 그 형벌 지급을 폐지하는 것을 결정했다.
관심사를 들어서 후에, 우리는 각 투어 선수를 위한 사업 기회 지원하고 강화하는의 우리의 공동 목적을 달성하는 다른 방법이 다는 것을 믿는다. 저 정신에서는, 우리는 우리의 다양한 투어 선수에 더 나은 대안을 개발하기 위하여 교통 계속되. LPGA는 2008년 말까지 수정한 접근, 결석한 노는 형벌을, 알릴 것이다.
그동안 우리는 Kolon-LPGA 3 년 오래된 교차하는 문화적인 프로그램의 밑에 지원을 제공하는 것을 계속할 것이다. 이 보급 프로그램은 LPGA 직원과 고문에게서 원조 뿐만 아니라 가정교사, 통역, Rosetta Stone® 의 LPGA의 공식적인 언어 배우는 체계의 모양으로 제일 cross-cultural 훈련을 모든 LPGA 일원에게, 제공한다.
Geoff
I wonder if the LPGA's change of course means Jan Stephenson has not been de-vindicated. Gary Van Sickle reported earlier this week:
The rule, clearly aimed at the growing number of Asian players dominating the tour, seemed to confirm that Stephenson, a Hall of Fame golfer, was not alone in the sentiments that got her in trouble five years ago. She drew a firestorm of criticism for saying in a 2003 GOLF Magazine interview that the influx of Asian players was "killing" the tour and that the LPGA should consider quotas on foreign players. Stephenson was accused of making racially insensitive remarks and was criticized by then-LPGA commissioner Ty Votaw. She apologized but was still ostracized.
"I talked to the LPGA this morning, and now they're saying, yes, it [foreign players] is an issue," Stephenson said by phone from her Florida office Tuesday. "I said, I've finally been vindicated."
Reader Comments (17)
ES
I'm not sure if it's been mentioned or not, but I wonder how Sophie Gustafson (and Ty!) felt about this?!?
ES
It's funny. The LPGA was trying to be more user-friendly and not establish quotas. And look how they got hammered for it. By this site too.
A quota would mainly have the effect of protecting American players, doing little to address the language issue among the Koreans who do stay. Has America fallen that far in the golf world? Might as well start up a real world tour, based somewhere else. But we're told this is solely about the sponsors, who (at least theoretically) don't care who plays, as long as they speak English in the pro-ams and look great in capri pants.
So the question is not how best to get rid of top-notch foreign golfers, but how to encourage fluency without seeming draconian, which their first effort fell woefully short of accomplishing. It's a question of optics and diplomacy, not legal rights.
Has American golf fallen that far? I don't know. If the answer is yes, maybe some protectionism is in order. As I said, many countries unabashedly do it. They make no bones about it; their goal is to provide jobs for their own people. America supposedly operates on a different plane, where talent trumps nationality. But maybe it's time to question that premise.
Question: The LPGA has carved out quite a global presence with almost 100 players being from outside the USA and several tournaments in Mexico, Asia and Europe. Will you continue that strategy?
Answer: The LPGA did some research they just got back. One of the things the casual viewer and the avid follower of the LPGA like very much is the international flavor of the LPGA. I think that's a mix of international tournaments, and that's a representation of the diversity you see among the players. That's certainly something we want to preserve. Our fans, and those who watch us on television, like that aspect of it.
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At least her husband has kept a low profile lately. Between his antics and the riff with the TOA in 2006, it is amazing she has made it this far.
Next up: exempt status for the 2 Ashleys