The LPGA Tour announced a dramatic change to its gender policy on Wednesday, with huge implications for transgender players.
Women’s golf has been embroiled in controversy over the past year, with several professionals begging the tour to change the rules of the game to prevent trans athletes like Hailey Davidson from competing.
The LPGA continued to stand by its inclusion policy for transgender athletes undergoing surgery after male puberty after removing the requirement that golfers be “female” at birth in a 2010 policy change.
However, the organization has made a U-turn with its updated gender policy, which will come into effect in 2025. Players must now be assigned female at birth or transition to female before going through male puberty to compete in LPGA tournaments or the eight USGA women’s championships.
“Under the new policy, athletes assigned female at birth are eligible to compete on the LPGA Tour, Epson Tour, Ladies European Tour and all other elite LPGA competitions,” a statement from the tour said.
“Players assigned male at birth and who have undergone male puberty are not eligible to participate in the above events.”
The LPGA Tour (photo commissioner Mollie Marcoux Samaan) announced a dramatic change in its gender policy
Transgender golfer Hailey Davidson was criticized for competing against biological women
Players assigned male at birth must prove that they have not experienced any part of puberty after the first stage or after age 12, whichever comes first, and then meet the restriction standards for the testosterone levels.
The LPGA and USGA said their policies aimed to be inclusive of gender identities and expression while striving for equality in competition.
The LPGA said its expert working group recommended that the effects of male puberty enabled competitive advantages in golf compared to players who had not gone through puberty.
“Our policies reflect a comprehensive, science-based and inclusive approach,” said LPGA Commissioner Mollie Marcoux Samaan, who announced her resignation Monday via the Associated Press.
“The policy represents our ongoing commitment to ensuring everyone feels welcome within our organization, while maintaining the fairness and competitive equity of our elite leagues.”
The Competitive Fairness Gender Policy for the USGA will go into effect for the 2025 championship season, which begins with the US Women’s Amateur Four-Ball on May 10-14. Qualifying began at the end of this year, although no transgender players took part.
The updated policy would exclude eligibility from Davidson, who has tried to earn her professional status on the women’s tour amid criticism and opposition from nearly 300 rival players.
The 31-year-old missed qualifying for this year’s US Women’s Open by one shot and fell short at the LPGA Q school.
Davidson, who played NCAA Men’s Division II and III golf, is seen in 2015 before transferring
English golfer Charley Hull pictured during the US Women’s Open in May
Davidson last competed as a male golfer in 2015, before beginning hormone therapy treatments and undergoing gender reassignment surgery in 2021.
She was banned from tournament play on NXXT Golf — a women’s professional mini tour — earlier this year after winning the Women’s Classic in January at Mission Inn Resort and Club, a track event near Orlando.
The win allowed the Scot to move a step closer to the LPGA, with the NXXT granting its top five players exemptions to the Epson Tour – a step below the top level of the women’s game.
However, the circuit subsequently announced on International Women’s Day that it had reversed its gender policy and that, effective immediately, participants must be biologically female at birth to participate.
Although Davidson was unable to obtain her LPGA tour card this year, she will not get a second chance next season as the new policy would apply not only to the LPGA Tour, but also to the Epson Tour, Ladies European Tour and the qualification for the tours.