Players must be assigned female at birth or transition to female before puberty to compete in the LPGA championships or the USGA’s eight women’s championships under new gender policies published Wednesday.
The policies, which start in 2025, follow more than a year of study involving medicine, science, sports science and gender policy law.
The revised policies will disqualify Hailey Davidson, who missed qualifying for this year’s US Women’s Open by one shot and failed at the LPGA Q school.
Davidson began hormone therapy in her early 20s in 2015 and in 2021 underwent sex reassignment surgery, which was required under the LPGA’s previous gender policy. He was successful this year at a small Florida tour called NXXT Golf until the circuit announced in March that players must be female at birth.
The LPGA and USGA said their policies were intended to include gender identity and expression while striving for equality in competition.
The LPGA said its expert working group has advised that the effects of puberty in males allow for competitive advantages in golf compared to players who did not go through puberty.
“Our mission reflects a comprehensive, science-based and inclusive approach,” said LPGA Commissioner Mollie Marcoux Samaan, who announced Monday that she is resigning in January. “The policy represents our ongoing commitment to ensuring that all feel welcome in our organization, while maintaining the fairness and competitive edge of our high-level competitions.”
Mike Whan, former LPGA commissioner and now USGA CEO, said it developed the revised policy independently and later found it to be similar to those used in swimming, track and field, and other sports.
“It starts with competing as a Northern player,” Whan said in a phone interview. “We tried not to get into politics, country and state or any of those things. We just said, ‘Where can a person – at least in medicine today – where do we believe a person can have a chance to compete in this field?’ And we needed to draw a line.
“We needed to be able to walk into any women’s event and say with confidence that no one here has a competitive advantage based on their gender. And this goal shows that.”
The USGA’s “Competition Equity Policy” goes into effect for the 2025 championship season beginning with the US Women’s Amateur Four-Ball on May 10-14. Eligibility began later this year, although no transgender players participated.
“Will that change in the coming years as medicine changes? Maybe,” Whan said. “But I think today this is piling up.”
The LPGA “Gender Policy for Competitive Eligibility” will apply to LPGA Tour, Epson Tour, Ladies European Tour and tour qualifying.
Players who are assigned male at birth must demonstrate that they have not experienced any part of puberty beyond the first stage or after age 12, whichever comes first, and meet the minimum standards for testosterone levels.
The LPGA begins its 75th season on Jan. 30 for the Tournament of Champions in Orlando, Florida.
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