Transgender Golfers Face New Hurdles in USGA and LPGA Events: Regulations Demand Proof of Pre-Puberty Transition

The U.S. Golf Association (USGA) and the Ladies Professional Golf Association (LPGA) Tour have unveiled new regulations regarding transgender athletes. Starting in 2025, the new rules will allow transgender women to compete in USGA and LPGA events only if they transitioned before male puberty and their testosterone levels remain below a specified threshold.

This regulation will also apply to the Epson Tour, the LPGA’s developmental circuit, and the Ladies European Tour (LET) affiliated with the LPGA Tour.

It’s important to note that these rules do not apply to recreational golf.

The USGA and LPGA consulted leading medical, science, sports physiology, and golf performance analysis experts to create these guidelines. According to the organizations, performance differences in sports based on biological sex become evident at the onset of puberty, with male athletes generally having a performance advantage in golf once they have passed through puberty.

The decision to implement this policy follows the case of Hailey Davidson, a Scottish golfer who transitioned and attempted to enter the LPGA Tour qualifying series.

Davidson’s athletic background includes playing on the men’s golf teams at Wilmington University and Christopher Newport University. As a male athlete, she competed in the 2015 U.S. Open regional qualifiers.

In response to Davidson’s bid to compete in the LPGA Tour qualifying series, 275 female golfers petitioned the LPGA, USGA, and the International Golf Federation (IGF) to oppose her participation. The petition argued that male golfers have an estimated 30% advantage over women in ball-striking ability, with anatomical differences significantly affecting club head speed and consistency when striking the ball.

While Davidson did not make it to the final stage of the LPGA Tour qualifying series, she secured a conditional spot on the Epson Tour.

Following the decision to bar her from the LPGA Tour competition, Davidson took to social media to express her frustration, saying: “Can’t say I didn’t see this coming. Banned from the Epson and the LPGA. All the silence and people wanting to stay ‘neutral’ thanks for absolutely nothing. This happened because of all your silence.”