(Sports Network) - Facing substantial criticism, the LPGA Tour announced Friday that it would rescind a recently-announced policy that would have required players to learn and speak English. The tour was to call for players to comply by the end of next year or face suspension.

"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," said LPGA commissioner Carolyn F. Bivens. "In that spirit, we will continue communicating with our diverse tour players to develop a better alternative."

The LPGA said it will announce a revised approach -- absent playing penalties -- by the end of the year.

It had faced considerable backlash from across the sports spectrum and beyond since the impending policy was first reported last week.

Among the policy's most vocal critics was California state senator Leland Yee, who called it "unfair, unreasonable, and discriminatory."

"Omitting qualified players from LPGA membership is inappropriate and unsuitable for the world we live in and poorly reflects on the increasingly diverse population of California and the United States," Yee said over the weekend.

Leading civil rights groups including the American Civil Liberties Union, the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People and the Anti- Defamation League had joined in the protest, as had several ethnic rights organizations.

Yee pointed out that there are 121 international players on the LPGA Tour from 26 different countries. Largest among the groups, of course, is the tour's burgeoning Korean population.



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