The Ladies Professional Golf Association (LPGA), the world’s premier women’s golf competition, announced a new gender policy for competition eligibility on Wednesday.
LPGA changes gender eligibility
The policy states that to be eligible to play on the LPGA tour, players must be assigned female at birth. If an individual is assigned male at birth, they must have transitioned to female before reaching an early phase of puberty. The policy will take effect on 1 January 2025.
Mike Whan, former LPGA commissioner and CEO of the United States Golf Association, told the Associated Press the policy was developed with competitive fairness as the key priority.
Hailey Davidson, a professional golfer who transitioned in her early 20s, will no longer be eligible to compete on either the LPGA or its development tour.
What they said
Davidson posted on social media: “Can’t say I didn’t see this coming. Banned from the Epson and the LPGA. All the silence and people wanting to stay ‘neutral’ thanks for absolutely nothing. This happened because of all your silence.”
Part of the LPGA’s statement read: “In consulting with top experts in the fields of medicine, science, sport physiology and golf performance, we have been advised that a Player’s exposure to male puberty provides physical advantages that are beneficial to golf performance compared to Players who have not had such exposure.”
