The New York Times is criticizing the Ladies Professional Golf Association (LPGA) for its new rule that will require all golfers who have been on tour for two years to pass a test confirming their spoken English ability starting next year.

In an editorial titled “A Bad Idea from the LPGA,” the daily said Thursday that for the American association to impose discriminatory rules on its own members is not only offensive but also self-destructive.

The editorial said the LPGA is militating against its own international success, citing that its number one player, Lorena Ochoa, is Mexican, and the most dominant player over the past decade, Annika Sorenstam, is Swedish.

The paper also noted that 45 of the 120 players on the circuit are South Korean, including seven on the LPGA’s top 20 list.

The editorial stressed that what matters is ability, not linguistic skills or country of origin.