Report: More than 275 players sign letter calling for changes to LPGA transgender policy as Hailey Davidson competes for status

As transgender golfer Hailey Davidson competes successful this week’s LPGA Qualifying event, there’s increasing interest among players connected nan LPGA and Epson Tour astir nan organization’s Gender Policy. The Independent Women’s Forum precocious shared a missive pinch Outkick signed by much than 275 female golfers that was sent to nan LPGA, USGA and IGF (International Golf Federation) past August calling for nan organizations to repeal each policies and rules that let biologic males to compete successful women’s events.

The letter, which was obtained by Golfweek, states that “it is basal for nan integrity and fairness of women’s play to person a clear and accordant information argumentation successful spot based connected a player’s immutable sex.”

Signed by existent and erstwhile female professionals, nan missive was sent conscionable earlier nan commencement of nan first shape of LPGA Qualifying successful California past August. Just 3 days prior, nan circuit sent retired a memo of its ain to LPGA and Epson Tour players regarding its Gender Policy.

Golfweek confirmed that successful nan memo, LPGA Commissioner Mollie Marcoux Samaan stated that nan circuit planned to reason a lengthy reappraisal of its existent argumentation by year’s extremity and would instrumentality immoderate updates to nan argumentation earlier nan 2025 season.

The commissioner stated that nan tour’s apical privilege must beryllium to person a argumentation that provides for adjacent title and considers “first and foremost” competitory advantage.

Meanwhile, arsenic nan circuit continues its review, Davidson marches on.

On Tuesday successful Venice, Florida, she opened what was formally known arsenic Stage II of LPGA Qualifying pinch a 6-over 78. If Davidson completes each 4 rounds of this week’s arena astatine Plantation Golf and Country Club, wherever location is nary cut, she will gain Epson Tour position for nan 2025 season. If Davidson finishes successful nan apical 35 and ties among nan section of 195, she’ll move connected to Final Qualifying for a chance to gain an LPGA paper for adjacent season.

In 2010, nan LPGA voted to destruct its request that players beryllium “female astatine birth” not agelong aft a transgender female revenge a suit against nan tour.

Recently retired LPGA subordinate Amy Olson believes nan circuit should return to requiring that athletes beryllium female astatine birth.

“I would opportunity I’m cautiously optimistic that nan LPGA will do nan correct thing,” Olson told Golfweek. “That they will update their argumentation to bespeak a adjacent competitory situation for women and besides continued opportunity for women.

“I americium optimistic. The LPGA has fought truthful difficult for women golfers for complete 70 years – our ngo has ever been consistent.”

More: Transgender golfer Hailey Davidson supports pro tour’s determination to canvass players astir gender policy

While nan threat of different suit undoubtedly plays a ample domiciled successful decision-making, Olson has noted that nan threat useful some ways. Should a transgender female gain an LPGA paper and switch a biologic female, nan threat of a suit against nan circuit could beryllium conscionable arsenic strong.

“I truthful powerfully judge that if nan LPGA does nan correct thing,” said Olson, “they will person an immense magnitude of support.”

The missive sent by nan Independent Women’s Forum lays retired a number of differences betwixt biologic males and females that effect golf, noting that, “The antheral advantage successful driving nan shot is estimated astir a 30 percent capacity advantage; this is an tremendous quality successful nan discourse of sport. Anatomical differences betwixt males and females impact clubhead velocity and regulating consistency astatine shot contact. Females person higher mean bosom rates and brushwood greater physiological demands while playing, particularly astatine precocious altitudes. The anatomical differences are not removed pinch antheral testosterone suppression. There is nary measurement to move a antheral into a female. Being a female is not equated to being antheral pinch a simplification successful strength.”

On Sept. 24, 2015 – a day that’s tattooed connected her correct forearm – Davidson began undergoing hormone treatments and successful January 2021, underwent gender reassignment surgery, a six-hour process that’s required nether nan LPGA’s Gender Policy.

LPGA seasoned Sarah Kemp knows Davidson personally and sees nary logic for nan circuit to alteration its policy.

“I can’t ideate having to woody pinch nan magnitude of dislike she does connected an mundane basis. It’s sadistic and shameful,” Kemp told Golfweek successful an email speech earlier this year. “Hailey conscionable wants to compete, and she useful her tail disconnected to get better. But moreover arsenic difficult arsenic she works, she hasn’t been capable to break done successful women’s master golf. I still can’t judge nan worldwide uproar complete her winning an NXXT event. …  I cognize 2 transgender golfers – some of whom person had nan procedure, including Hailey – and what that room did to their bodies physically was substantially much terrible than hormone treatments alone. I judge this will beryllium a awesome information successful nan investigation that’s conscionable opening connected transgender athletes successful elite sport.”

Earlier this year, Davidson came wrong 1 spot of qualifying for nan 79th U.S. Women’s Open, nan biggest title successful women’s golf.

Davidson had chiefly competed connected NXXT Golf until nan Florida-based mini circuit announced successful March – connected International Women’s Day – that competitors must beryllium a biologic female astatine commencement to participate.

A three-time victor connected nan tour, Davidson classed 2nd connected nan mini tour’s play standings astatine nan clip of nan ban. She had played 9 times this play connected nan NXXT.