LPGA updates policy on transgender women golfers
-
Published
Transgender women who have gone through male puberty will not be allowed to compete on leading womenâs golf tours from next year.
Updated rules on gender policy will also apply to United States Golf Association events including the US Womenâs Open and will prevent Scottish-born American Hailey Davidson from seeking membership of the LPGA Tour.
The 31-year-old, who transitioned after playing menâs college golf in the United States, failed to qualify for a card on the leading womenâs tour when finishing 95th at the second stage of LPGA Q School in October.
Davidsonâs participation prompted protests, with 275 female players signing a letter asking for changes to policies which allowed people recorded male at birth to compete in womenâs events.
Previously, the LPGA allowed players to compete if they had undergone gender-affirming surgery after puberty and met hormone therapy requirements.
But these rules have now been altered.
âThe LPGA has updated its gender policy for competition eligibility, effective starting with the 2025 season,â the LPGA said in a statement.
âThe policy â informed by a working group of top experts in medicine, science, sport physiology, golf performance and gender policy law â was developed with input from a broad array of stakeholders and prioritises the competitive integrity of womenâs professional tournaments and elite amateur competitions.
âThis working group has advised that the effects of male puberty confer competitive advantages in golf performance compared to players who have not undergone male puberty.â
The new policy applies to the LPGA Tour, its feeder Epson Tour where Davidson would have been eligible to play, plus the Ladies European Tour and all other elite LPGA events.
The statement added that players recorded as male at birth and who have gone through male puberty âare not eligible to compete in the aforementioned eventsâ.
The R&A, which governs golfâs rules outside the United States and Mexico, is expected to adopt the same policy from 1 January next year for its womenâs championships, including the AIG Womenâs Open.
Davidson played on the menâs team at Wilmington University in Delaware before transferring to the menâs team at Christopher Newport in Virginia.
Denmarkâs Mianne Bagger became the first transgender golfer to play a professional event when competing in the 2004 Womenâs Australian Open.
But the now 57-year-old subsequently became a critic of relaxed rules governing transgender participation in womenâs sport.
Announcing the changed rule for 2025, the outgoing commissioner of the LPGA, Mollie Marcoux Samaan, said: âOur policy is reflective of an extensive, science-based and inclusive approach.
âThe policy represents our continued commitment to ensuring that all feel welcome within our organisation, while preserving the fairness and competitive equity of our elite competitions.â
Responding to the change on Instagram, Davidson said: âCanât say I didnât see this coming.
âBanned from the Epson and the LPGA. All the silence and people wanting to stay âneutralâ thanks for absolutely nothing. This happened because of all your silence.â
In updating its policy, the LPGA follows other governing bodies from sports including swimming and athletics in banning transgender women from competing in the female category at elite level if they have gone through male puberty.
Related topics
-
-
Published23 January
-