The American women’s golf scene has introduced new eligibility criteria for transgender athletes. On Thursday, the United States Golf Association (USGA) and the Ladies Professional Golf Association (LPGA) Tour announced a new rule stating that only athletes who transitioned before puberty and meet male hormone level standards will be eligible to compete. This regulation is set to take effect in 2025.
The new policy will also apply to the Epson Tour, the LPGA’s qualifying tour, and the Ladies European Tour (LET). However, it will not apply to amateur golfers who play recreationally.
The USGA and LPGA consulted with experts in medicine, science, sports physiology, and golf performance to assess the impact of biological sex differences on athletic performance. They concluded that post-puberty biological changes significantly affect golf performance, providing the background behind their decision.
The policy change appears to have been sparked by Hailey Davidson, a golfer from Scotland. Davidson, who previously competed as a male athlete, stirred controversy by applying for the LPGA Tour qualifying series after gender transition. She had formerly played on a men’s college team and in U.S. Open regional qualifiers but now sought to compete in women’s golf tournaments.
Davidson’s bid faced substantial opposition. A petition signed by 275 female professional golfers argued against her participation, claiming, “The male advantage in driving the ball is estimated around a 30 percent performance advantage; this is an enormous difference in the context of sport. Anatomical differences between males and females affect clubhead speed and regulating consistency at ball contact.”
Ultimately, Davidson did not advance to the final round of the qualifying series but secured conditional status on the Epson Tour. She expressed her dissatisfaction on social media, stating, “I expected this.”
