The LPGA Tour is undergoing a leadership change after Commissioner Mollie Marcoux Samaan announced her departure next month. Liz Moore will take over as interim commissioner.
Marcoux Samaan, who has been leading the tour since 2021, introduced record-breaking prize money but faced criticism for not increasing popularity during a surge in women’s sports. Moore, the current chief legal and technology officer, will focus on finding solutions to the controversy surrounding transgender athletes competing in women’s golf.
The issue gained attention after trans golfer Hailey Davidson was removed from the NXXT Tour due to its policy banning transgender athletes from competing against their identified gender. Two professional golfers, Lauren Miller and Hannah Arnold, expressed concerns that the LPGA Tour should establish a clear policy on allowing or excluding transgender athletes from women’s golf.
Miller stated, “I hope the next commissioner has the courage to do what is best for not only current members but the future of women’s golf through emphasizing fairness by keeping women’s golf female.” Arnold added, “We need leadership who emphasizes player first and tour second. It’s our responsibility to hold leadership accountable to the players.”
The LPGA Tour already has a gender policy allowing transgender golfers to participate if they undergo sex-reassignment surgery after puberty and meet hormone therapy requirements. Marcoux Samaan had announced that the tour would review its policy by the end of the year.
As the organization looks for new leadership, the golf community is holding it accountable for making decisions that prioritize fairness and player needs.
Source: https://www.foxnews.com/sports/pro-golfers-call-lpga-tour-alter-gender-eligibility-policy-amid-leadership-shakeup