Golf authorities ban male-born players from competing in female events

Golf authorities have laid down the law on transgender athletes playing in female tournaments from 2025 and beyond.

The debate on male-born players competing in women’s events reignited when Hailey Davidson won on the women’s NXXT golf tour in January 2024.

Davidson played men’s college golf at Wilmington University and Christopher Newport before beginning hormone treatment in 2015. She underwent gender reassignment therapy in 2021.

She met the tour’s gender policy criteria which said players had to be female, undergo gender reassignment surgery and hormonal therapy, and maintain testosterone levels appropriate for the assigned sex.

Tour members were surveyed after this, and Davidson was subsequently banned from the NXXT golf tour, a decision she described as a ‘slap in the face’. The tour immediately implemented a policy that said competitors must be female at birth to play.

The door was shut on Davidson’s playing opportunities in female events. Now, the key has been thrown away after fresh announcements from the LPGA Tour, the USGA and the R&A, with England Golf expected to follow suit.

Below are the statements from each respective organisation and comments from their heads of office, with updates to follow:

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Transgender golfer rules updated from 2025

R&A

The R&A has introduced a fair competition policy to determine the eligibility of transgender athletes to compete in its professional and elite amateur championships.

The policy has been developed following extensive consultation over the last year with medical and scientific experts who have reviewed the best available research on transgender participation in high-performance sport. The evidence shows that golf is a gender-affected sport in which male puberty confers a performance advantage.  

From the start of 2025, a golfer entering female professional and elite amateur championships organised by The R&A must have been female at birth or transitioned to female before the onset of male puberty to be eligible to compete.

Players assigned male at birth and who have experienced male puberty are ineligible to compete in these events, but can enter male professional and elite amateur championships organised by The R&A.

These requirements will not apply at a recreational level where the sport supports inclusivity through the World Handicap System, which enables golfers worldwide to play and compete together on a fair and equitable basis regardless of age, ability, background or gender.

R&A chief executive Martin Slumbers:

“We have carefully reviewed the best available medical and scientific advice relating to participation in elite and scratch level golf competitions by transgender athletes and decided that updating our entry conditions to preserve fairness in our female professional and elite amateur championships is the right thing to do.
 
“While we believe that golf should be open to all and are committed to developing the sport, we recognise that we have a duty to ensure that in our elite competitions players can compete fairly and equally.”

LPGA Tour

The LPGA has updated its Gender Policy for Competition Eligibility, effective starting with the 2025 season. 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.

Accordingly, under the new policy, athletes who are assigned female at birth are eligible to compete on the LPGA Tour, Epson Tour, Ladies European Tour, and in all other elite LPGA competitions. Players assigned male at birth and who have gone through male puberty are not eligible to compete in the aforementioned events.

The policies governing the LPGA’s recreational programs and non-elite events utilize different criteria to provide opportunities for participation in the broader LPGA community.

LPGA Tour commissioner Mollie Marcoux Samaan:

“Our policy is reflective of an extensive, science-based and inclusive approach. The policy represents our continued commitment to ensuring that all feel welcome within our organisation, while preserving the fairness and competitive equity of our elite competitions.”

USGA

The United States Golf Association (USGA) has introduced a new Competitive Fairness Gender Policy, set to take effect for the 2025 championship season. The policy, which ensures the USGA’s longstanding commitment to welcoming all gender identities and gender expressions while maintaining equity in competition, reflects several changes related to transgender athletes.  

The new policy ensures competitive opportunities are provided for athletes playing in USGA women’s competitions without allowing an unfair advantage for athletes who have received the sports performance benefits of male puberty, meaning athletes must be assigned female at birth or have transitioned to female prior to going through male puberty in order to compete.

Current scientific and medical research shows that sports performance differences exist between biological sexes and such differences begin to occur during the onset of puberty. 

USGA CEO Mike Whan:

“We remain committed to providing opportunities for everyone to compete for a national title or team but have made changes to our eligibility criteria that reflects current scientific data and strives to maintain competitive integrity. Our updated policy reflects a thoughtful and thorough process during which the USGA consulted with leading medical professionals from around the world.” 

Hailey Davidson: The response

Shortly after these respective statements, Davidson posted her response on social media via her Instagram stories:

“I have to dig myself out of a mental hole every morning the last few months just to try and get going.

“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.

“What a great birthday present for 2024. Having the greatest achievement I’ve earned in my life taken away 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 the advantage and gets banned.”

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