The LPGA Tour is deciding whether to ban male-born golfers in a move that could see Hailey Davidson lose the playing status the Scot took from Q-School this week.
Davidson missed the historic quest to become the first transgender golfer to win a card on the women’s main circuit when she lost by six strokes to advance to the final stage, but still earned playing rights in the Epson Tour, the main feeder league.
However, during the closed season, rules could be introduced that would prohibit the 31-year-old from competing in the LPGA pyramid or re-entering Q-School and thus, legal remedies aside, end a controversy that has ruined soccer. female.
Davidson nearly qualified for the US Women’s Open in June, sparking a groundswell of opposition in the locker room. A letter signed by 275 professionals was recently sent to major golf organizations urging the powers that be to ban male players from participating in the women’s competition.
‘The differences between sexes affect our sport’
“It is essential to the integrity and fairness of women’s golf to have a clear and consistent participation policy based on a player’s immutable sex,” the letter written by the Independent Women’s Forum said. “There are differences between the sexes – female and male – that specifically affect our sport of golf.”
The LPGA allows golfers who undergo gender-affirming surgery after puberty to compete if they also meet hormone therapy requirements. Tour commissioner Mollie Marcoux responded to the petition by revealing that a comprehensive review is underway that will be completed by the end of the year and that changes will be implemented before next season.
Originally, LPGA regulations required its players to be “female at birth,” but in 2010, after another transgender golfer filed a lawsuit, this requirement was removed. It will be interesting to see Davidson’s reaction if the policy is reversed.
Before transitioning, the Ayrshire-born golfer earned a scholarship to the Wilmington University men’s team and has since remained in the US, reportedly beginning hormone treatments in 2015 before gender-affirming surgery in 2021.
After shooting a 72 in the final round in Venice, Florida, Davidson declined to comment.