Transgender golfer Hailey Davidson reacted to the change in the LPGA Tour gender policy. The American golfer competed in the LPGA Tour Q Series and finished in 95th place in the first qualifying stage. She did not earn her LPGA Tour card but was qualified to compete on the Epson Tour for the 2025 season.
However, recently the LPGA Tour and US Golf Association have announced changes to their gender policy, which might affect players, including Hailey Davidson’s future in the game. Davidson reacted to the policy. As per Nuclr Golf, she said:
“Can’t say I didnt 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.”
According to reports, previously, male players, who self-identified as women, were allowed to play on the circuit if they had undergone gonadectomy and had been on hormone therapy for at least a year.
But now, the policy has been changed, and players who are born male must go through the medical expert panel of the Tour to be eligible to compete on the circuit.
They have implemented two major changes. First, the player must not have experienced male puberty either at Tanner Stage 2 or after the age of 12. In addition, the testosterone level in their serum must be below 2.5 nmol/L to be eligible to play on the circuit. Hailey Davidson does not match the new changes.
“Preserving fairness and competitive equality” – LPGA Tour Commissioner reacts to the change in gender policy
LPGA Tour Commissioner Mollie Marcoux Samaan opened up about the new gender policy of the circuit. She highlighted in her interview that the changes promote “fairness and competitive equity.” She said (via Golf Week):
“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 organization, while preserving the fairness and competitive equity of our elite competitions.”
Notably, recently retired LPGA Tour player Amy Olson spoke about the gender policy in her recent interview with Golf Week. She said:
“[This issue] is really on people’s minds now because it’s right in front of us, but it’s been there for 13 years – since we changed our policy… We want it to be female at birth – end of story. If you’re born female, you’re a female. If you’re born male, you’re a male.”
Earlier this year in August, while Hailey Davidson was preparing to play in the LPGA Tour Q Series, around 275 female golfers from the Independent Women’s Forum signed a letter to the LPGA Tour, International Golf Federation, and USGA asking for the change in the gender policy, and now, finally, the changes have been announced
