Transgender women who have reached male puberty will not be allowed to compete on major women’s golf tours starting next year.
Updated gender policy rules will also apply to United States Golf Association events, including the US Women’s Open, and prevent Scottish-American Hailey Davidson from applying for membership of the LPGA Tour.
The 31-year-old, who made the transition after playing men’s college golf in the United States, failed to qualify for a card on the main women’s tour when he finished 95th at the second stage of the LPGA Q School in October.
Davidson’s participation sparked protests, with 275 players signing a letter demanding changes to policies allowing people registered male at birth to compete in women’s events.
Previously, the LPGA allowed players to compete if they had undergone gender affirmation surgery after puberty and met the requirements for hormone therapy.
But these rules have now been changed.
“The LPGA has updated its gender equality policy for competition eligibility, beginning with the 2025 season,” the LPGA said in a statement.
“The policy – informed by a working group comprised of high-level experts in medicine, science, sports physiology, golf performance and gender policy law – was developed with input from a broad range of stakeholders and prioritizes the competitive integrity of women’s professional tournaments and elite amateur competitions.
“This task force reasoned that the effects of male puberty confer competitive advantages in golf performance over players who have not experienced male puberty.”
The new policy applies to the LPGA Tour, its feeder Epson Tour where Davidson would have been eligible to play, as well as the Ladies European Tour and all other elite LPGA events.
The statement added that players registered as male at birth and who have reached male puberty “are not eligible to participate in the aforementioned events.”
The R&A, which governs the rules of golf outside the United States and Mexico, is expected to adopt the same policy starting Jan. 1 next year for its women’s championships, including the AIG Women’s Open.
Davidson played on the men’s team at Wilmington University in Delaware before transferring to Christopher Newport’s men’s team in Virginia.
Denmark’s Mianne Bagger became the first transgender golfer to compete in a professional event when she competed at the 2004 Women’s Australian Open.
But the now 57-year-old later became critical of relaxed rules governing transgender participation in women’s sport.
Announcing the amended rule for 2025, outgoing LPGA Commissioner Mollie Marcoux Samaan said: “Our policy reflects a thorough, science-based and inclusive approach.
“This policy represents our ongoing commitment to ensuring that all feel welcome within our organization, while preserving the fairness and competitive equity of our elite competitions.”
Responding to the change on Instagram, Davidson said: “I can’t say I didn’t see this coming.
“Banned from the Epson and the LPGA. All this silence and people wanting to remain ‘neutral’ thank you for absolutely nothing. This happened because of all your silence.”
In updating its policy, the LPGA follows the lead of other sports governing bodies, including swimming and track and field, in banning transgender women from competing in the women’s category at the elite level if they have reached male puberty .
