You may recall that last week the LPGA was going to make foreign players learn to speak English by the end of 2009 or suspend them.

But after further review and mounting criticism, the tour is backing down from that policy.

LPGA Tour commissioner Carolyn Bivens said Friday the tour would have a new plan by the end of the year. That plan would not include any penalties.

Bivens said there are other ways to achieve the tour's objective of "supporting and enhancing the business opportunities for every tour player."

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Kudos to the LPGA for making its foreign players learn to speak English.

More than 120 international players, including 45 from South Korea, are on the LPGA tour. If they don't comply, the tour says it will suspend their membership at the end of 2009.

One South Korea player, Seon-Hwa Lee, said she is working with an English tutor during the offseason and plans to brush up for the evaluation. She thinks everyone "can do a simple interview," according to the report. Her ability to answer questions without a translator has improved during her time on the tour.

"The economy is bad, and we are losing sponsors," she said, according to the report. "Everybody understands."

In a poll on ESPN.com, 66% of more than 20,000 voters agree with the policy.

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It would be nice if major league baseball attempted the same thing. I hate reading quotes from foreign players who have been in the league for several years that are through a translator. These players get paid a lot of money. You'd think they could afford an English tutor to allow them to better communicate with fans, media and yes, maybe even their own teammates.

And if I worked in a foreign country for several years, I would expect to have to learn the language, too.