The LPGA Set New Gender Eligibility Rules for 2025

The LPGA and major women’s golf tours including events like the US Women’s Open, will not allow transgender women who have gone through male puberty to compete starting in 2025. The updated gender policy also prevents Scottish-born American Hailey Davidson, who transitioned after playing men’s college golf from seeking membership in the LPGA. Davidson, 31, failed to qualify for an LPGA card in October, finishing 95th at the second stage of Q School.

Her attempts to participate in women’s events sparked protests with 275 female players petitioning for changes to policies that allow individuals assigned male at birth to compete in women’s tournaments. Under the LPGA’s previous policy, players who underwent gender-affirming surgery and hormone therapy could compete. However, after consulting with experts in medicine, sport science and gender policy, the LPGA decided that the effects of male puberty can provide a competitive advantage in golf.

As a result, the new rules exclude players recorded as male at birth who have undergone male puberty from LPGA, Epson Tour, Ladies European Tour and other elite LPGA events starting in 2025. The R&A which governs golf outside the U.S. and Mexico, plans to adopt similar rules for its women’s championships including the AIG Women’s Open, starting January 1, 2025. Hailey Davidson, who previously played on men’s teams at Wilmington University and Christopher Newport, criticized the policy change on social media.

She said that the silence surrounding the issue contributed to her exclusion. The LPGA’s outgoing commissioner, Mollie Marcoux Samaan emphasized that the new policy balances inclusivity with fairness in elite competitions following similar decisions in sports like swimming and athletics.