Hailey Davidson Competes in LPGA Qualifying Amid Controversy Over Transgender Policy

Transgender golfer Hailey Davidson has begun the second stage of LPGA qualifying, scoring a 78 on Tuesday, amidst a contentious debate over the LPGA’s transgender policy. Davidson, a 31-year-old professional golfer from Scotland now residing in Florida, advanced to the second stage after tying for 42nd in the pre-qualifying round of Q-school in August.

The controversy surrounding Davidson’s participation has been heightened by a letter signed by 275 female golfers, which was sent to the LPGA, the U.S. Golf Association, and the International Golf Federation. The letter, disclosed by the Independent Women’s Forum, calls for the repeal of policies that allow individuals assigned male at birth to compete in women’s events. The signatories argue that the current policy undermines the integrity and fairness of women’s golf, citing physical differences between the sexes that affect performance in the sport.

Davidson, who has been open about her transition, began hormone treatments in 2015 and underwent gender-affirming surgery in 2021. She meets the LPGA’s current criteria for transgender players, which include undergoing gender reassignment surgery after puberty and fulfilling hormone therapy requirements. Despite this, she faces criticism from some of her competitors, with some arguing that her participation is unfair due to the perceived physical advantages of male athletes.

The letter from the female golfers emphasizes the need for a clear and consistent participation policy based on a player’s immutable sex, highlighting that anatomical distinctions, such as driving distance and physiological challenges, remain significant even with testosterone suppression. The LPGA has announced that it will conclude a review of its policy by the end of the year and implement any changes before the next season.

Davidson’s performance in the second stage of qualifying, which was delayed by Hurricane Milton, places her in a tie for 171st in the 194-player field. The top 35 and ties will advance to the final qualifying round in December, with any player completing all four rounds earning limited status on the developmental Epson Tour).