New LPGA and USGA policy has banned transgender women like Hailey Davidson from competing in elite tournaments (Image: (Image: Getty Images))
Golfer Hailey Davidson has hit out at a new policy banning her and many transgender women from competing at elite tournaments. The Scottish-born American transitioned after competing in men’s college golf in the United States and will now be prevented from seeking membership of both the LPGA (Ladies Professional Association) and USGA (United States Golf Association) tours.
Davidson competed in the LPGA’s qualifying series and secured a partial position on the 2025 Epson Tour, having narrowly missed out on qualifying for the U.S. Women’s Open. However, new regulations announced by LPGA on Wednesday will stop her from seeking LPGA Tour membership starting next year.
Previously, the LPGA allowed players to participate if they had undergone gender-affirming surgery after puberty and met hormone therapy requirements. However, those same women who have gone through male puberty will no longer be eligible to compete on leading women’s golf tours.
The 31-year-old participated at the second stage of LPGA Q School in October, where she finished 95th. Her involvement sparked controversy as 275 female golfers petitioned to prevent those recorded as male at birth from participating in women’s events.
Following the updated rules, Davidson furiously responded on : “Can’t say I didn’t see this coming. Banned from the Epson and LPGA. All the silence and people wanting to stay ‘neutral’ thanks for absolutely nothing. This happened because of all your silence.
“What a great birthday present for 2024. Having the greatest achievement I’ve earned in my life taken from me. Gets outdriven by every player in every group I played in at Stage 2 of Q School yet I’m somehow the one with an advantage and gets banned.”
Davidson had previously been part of the men’s team at Wilmington University in Delaware before transferring to the men’s team at Christopher Newport in Virginia. She reportedly began hormone treatments in 2015 and had gender-affirming surgery in 2021.
Many women’s golf players had signed a letter to try and prevent transgender players like Hailey Davidson from competing (Image: Getty Images)
The new policy applies to players looking to compete at the LPGA Tour, its feeder Epson Tour – where Davidson would have been eligible to play – plus the Ladies European Tour and all other elite LPGA events. The USGA’s (United States Golf Association) updated Competitive Fairness Gender Policy, meanwhile, applies to the U.S. Women’s Open, the U.S. Senior Women’s Open and any other USGA championship, including qualifiers.
“The LPGA has updated its gender policy for competition eligibility, effective starting with the 2025 season,” the LPGA said in a statement. “The policy – informed by a working group of top experts in medicine, science, sport physiology, golf performance and gender policy law – was developed with input from a broad array of stakeholders and prioritises the competitive integrity of women’s professional tournaments and elite amateur competitions.
“This working group has advised that the effects of male puberty confer competitive advantages in golf performance compared to players who have not undergone male puberty.” The statement added that players recorded as male at birth and who have gone through male puberty “are not eligible to compete in the aforementioned events”. It further clarified that players recorded as male at birth and having undergone male puberty “are not eligible to compete in the aforementioned events”.
The R&A, which governs golf’s rules outside of the United States and Mexico, is expected to adopt the same policy from January 1 next year for its women’s championships, including the AIG Women’s Open. By updating its policy to ban transgender women who have undergone male puberty, the LPGA aligns with governing bodies of other sports like swimming and athletics.