“Thanks for nothing!” – Transgender golfer blasts LPGA over policy change

The transgender golfer at the heart of one of the biggest controversies to hit the LPGA in recent years has hit out after the women’s tour announced a significant update to its participation policy.

Going forward, players must be assigned female at birth or have transitioned to female before going through male puberty to take part in LPGA-sanctioned or USGA-governed events.

The Competitive Fairness Gender Policy will take effect from the start of the 2025 season and marks the latest shift in the LPGA’s position on gender.

Until 2010, it explicitly restricted membership to players who were “female at birth”. However, it removed that following a challenge in court by transgender golfer Lana Lawless. The then 57-year-old successfully argued that the policy was discriminatory.

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Outgoing LPGA commissioner Mollie Marcoux Samaan said the latest policy change was “reflective of an extensive, science-based and inclusive approach”, adding that it “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 chief executive Mike Whan – Samaan’s predecssor at the LPGA – told the Associated Press: “We tried not to get into politics, or state by state or any of that stuff.

“We just simply said, ‘Where would somebody — at least medically today — where do we believe somebody would have a competitive advantage in the field?’ And we needed to draw a line.

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However, Hailey Davidson, who made international headlines earlier this year after winning an event on a women’s development tour in the US, is unimpressed.

In a series of posts on Instagram, the transgender Scots-born golfer, who earned a card for the Epson Tour after narrowly missing out on an LPGA card at Q-School last month, wrote: “What a great birthday present for 2024. Having the greatest achievement I’ve earned in my life taken away from me.

“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 of your silence.”

Michael McEwan is the Deputy Editor of bunkered and has been part of the team since 2004. In that time, he has interviewed almost every major figure within the sport, from Jack Nicklaus, to Rory McIlroy, to Donald Trump. The host of the multi award-winning bunkered Podcast and a member of Balfron Golfing Society, Michael is the author of three books and is the 2023 PPA Scotland 'Writer of the Year' and 'Columnist of the Year'. Dislikes white belts, yellow balls and iron headcovers. Likes being drawn out of the media ballot to play Augusta National.

Deputy Editor