The LPGA and USGA have introduced new guidelines for competition eligibility, affecting transgender players. The guidelines, set to take effect in January, require players who were assigned male at birth but did not go through male puberty to meet specific testosterone level standards.
Under the new policy, transgender women are no longer eligible to compete unless they can prove they did not experience any part of puberty beyond the first stage before age 12. This change aims to ensure a fair playing field for women’s golf.
The update comes as the US Supreme Court hears a case about a Tennessee law barring transgender children from certain medical treatments, including puberty blockers. If similar laws remain in place, it could be difficult for some transgender athletes to meet the new eligibility requirements.
Hailey Davidson, a 31-year-old transgender golfer who recently earned partial status on the Epson Tour, will no longer be eligible to compete in LPGA events due to the policy change. Davidson expressed frustration with those who failed to speak out in support of transgender women, saying her ban from competition was inevitable due to their silence.
Source: https://www.deseret.com/sports/2024/12/04/lpga-transgender-athlete-policy