Both the LPGA and USGA announced on Wednesday new updates to their gender policies that will take effect in the 2025 season.
The new policy for the LGPA, which largely resembles that of the USGA, states that “players assigned male at birth and who have gone through male puberty are not eligible to compete” on the LPGA Tour, Epson Tour, Ladies European Tour and all other elite LPGA competitions. The LPGA said the policy updates were “informed by a working group of top experts in medicine, science, sport physiology, golf performance and gender policy law.”
“Our policy is reflective of an extensive, science-based and inclusive approach,” said LPGA Commissioner Mollie Marcoux Samaan in a statement. “The policy represents our continued commitment to ensuring that all feel welcome within our organization, while preserving the fairness and competitive equity of our elite competitions.”
The news comes on the heels of recent controversy surrounding transgender golfer Hailey Davidson, who nearly qualified for the U.S. Women’s Open this year. Davidson will be ineligible under the new LPGA policy, as she began hormone treatments in 2015 when she was in her early 20s, and underwent gender-affirming surgery in 2021.
Davidson reacted to the news on her Instagram story, writing, “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.”
Earlier this week, the LPGA announced Marcoux Samaan would be stepping down from her post, effective in January.
