This story has the potential to explode into one of those Jimmy The Greek, Ben Wright-style clashes where the PC police take on the perpetrator, in this case, the LPGA Tour. Frankly, I might actually not blame the PC police on this one. Beth Ann Baldry reports:

At a mandatory South Korean player meeting Aug. 20 at the Safeway Classic, the tour informed its largest international contingent that beginning in 2009, all players who have been on tour for two years must pass an oral evaluation of their English skills. Failure would result in a suspended membership.

“Hopefully what we’re talking about is something that will not happen,” said Libba Galloway, the tour’s deputy commissioner, of possible suspensions. “If it does, we wouldn’t just say, ‘Come back next year.’ What we would do is work with them on where they fell short, provide them the resources they need, the tutoring . . . and when we feel like they need to be evaluated again, we would evaluate.”

Galloway said the policy takes effect immediately, but the “measurement time will be at the end of 2009.” There are 121 international players from 26 countries on tour; 45 are South Koreans.

Hilary Lunke, president of the Player Executive Committee, said much of this initiative stems from the importance of being able to entertain pro-am partners. Players already are fined if the LPGA receives complaints from their pro-am partners. Now the tour is taking it one step further.

“The bottom line is, we don’t have a job if we don’t entertain,” Lunke said. “In my mind, that’s as big a part of the job as shooting under par.”

Okay, so they learn some rudimentary English, which actually gives them a leg up on the Commissioner.

Is the pro-am conversation really going to get beyond "good shot" and "left edge" and "nice meeting you"? Unbelievable.

This, is going to get ugly.

As Bob Harig outlines, it's a nightmare for Captain Azinger, a wealth of riches for Nick Faldo. Though Ian Poulter has essentially given up, pulling out of the Gleneagles event this week to play the TPC Boston. Which speaks to the depth of the European team.

Tiger's press release writers need to understand that it's one thing to declare you design work a success, it's another to do it while the bulldozers are still flying around.

“When I set out to design Al Ruwaya, I wanted the course to reflect what I truly love about golf – a stern mental and physical test that rewards smart thinking. I believe we’ve achieved that goal with a course that will be fun and rewarding for all skill levels to play.”

Currently, shaping is in progress on the 18 hole, 7,800 yard, par 72 championship-quality course, which includes dramatic elevations, stunning water features and an overall design that will challenge and entertain golfers of all skill levels.

By Dan Hickling, Globe Correspondent

PORTLAND, Maine -- Clay Buchholz is done for the night, a seven-inning stint for the Double-A Portland Sea Dogs against the New Britain Rock Cats.

Save for one rough inning, he looked like the Buchholz of old (at this level) anyway. He allowed four runs (three earned) on five hits, struck out eight Rock Cats and didn't walk any.

Buchholz threw 93 pitches, 69 for strikes, and capped his night with a nifty coverage play at first base.

At present, he stands to be the winner, as Portland holds a 5-4 lead.

If the plan holds, he will take the mound again on Saturday.

More to come...

By Dan Hickling, Globe Correspondent

PORTLAND, Maine -- Checking in from Hadlock Field, where, tonight, Clay Buchholz will begin process of rediscovering his command and confidence.

Buchholz will be facing the New Britain Rock Cats (Minnesota), which as a team is batting .264 (in the middle of the Eastern League pack) and whose leading hitter is CF Steve Tolleson (.311). Also in the line up is 3B Toby Gardenhire (.270), son of Minnesota skipper Ron Gardenhire.

There is no particular pitch count to limit Buchholz, whose promotion from Portland a year ago led to the elevation of Justin Masterson.

One other thing...by coincidence, happy or otherwise, tonight had long been pegged as "Clay Buchholz Bobble-head Night."

"We were trying to figure out the odds of this happening," said Portland GM Charlie Eshbach.

More to come...

The Globe's Dan Shaughnessy believes this week's Red Sox-Yankees series (Tuesday and Wednesday at 7 p.m., Thursday at 1 p.m.) will be the Sox' last trip to Yankee Stadium, meaning he's predicting the Bombers will miss the playoffs for the first time in 14 seasons. Click below to watch his series preview ...