TRANSGENDER WOMEN BANNED FROM LPGA

Tour and USGA require players to be female at birth or transition before male puberty

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FLORIDA - The Ladies Professional Golf Association (LPGA) and United States Golf Association (USGA) updated their gender policy on Dec 4, and players classified male at birth and who have gone through male puberty will not be eligible to compete.

The new policy comes into effect in the 2025 season, and covers the LPGA Tour, Epson Tour, Ladies European Tour, and all other elite LPGA competitions, where only athletes who are born female are eligible to compete.

"Our policy is reflective of an extensive, science-based and inclusive approach," outgoing LPGA commissioner Mollie Marcoux Samaan said in a statement.

"The policy represents our continued commitment to ensuring that all feel welcome within our organisation, while preserving the fairness and competitive equity of our elite competitions."

The policy was informed by a working group of top experts in medicine, science, sport physiology, golf performance and gender policy law, the LPGA said.

This working group advised that the effects of male puberty give competitive advantages in golf performance compared to players who have not undergone male puberty.