Report: Transgender Golfer to be Ban by LPGA Tour

Transgender Golfer Hailey Davidson’s Future on Epson Tour Uncertain Amid LPGA Policy Review

Transgender golfer Hailey Davidson recently achieved Epson Tour status for 2025 by finishing tied at 95th place in the second stage of the LPGA Q-Series. After posting a solid final-round score of 72 at Florida’s Plantation Golf and Country Club, Davidson is poised for the developmental circuit next season. However, her status could soon be in question as the LPGA Tour reevaluates its eligibility rules for transgender athletes.

According to a report by The Telegraph, LPGA Tour Commissioner Mollie Marcoux confirmed that the tour is currently reviewing whether athletes assigned male at birth should be allowed to compete in women’s events. The review process, expected to conclude by year-end, could lead to new regulations in place by the start of the next season.

This examination follows a petition sent to the LPGA, USGA, and IGF in August, signed by 275 golf professionals, which advocated for a ban on transgender athletes in women’s tournaments.

Davidson, 31, had been aiming to become the first transgender golfer to earn an LPGA Tour card. Advancing to the final stage of the Q-Series in December would have secured her spot, but she ultimately fell six strokes short of the top 35 cut. While she narrowly missed out on qualifying for the final stage, Davidson’s performance initially secured her limited eligibility on the Epson Tour for 2025—pending the LPGA’s decision.

The current review isn’t Davidson’s first experience with evolving gender policies in the sport. Earlier in the year, she competed on the NXXT Golf mini-tour, where she became the first transgender woman to win a women-only event at the NXXT Women’s Classic in January. However, this led to NXXT Golf surveying its members and ultimately requiring athletes to be assigned female at birth, which resulted in Davidson’s disqualification from future events.

In an emotional post on social media, Davidson criticized the NXXT decision, stating it felt like “a slap in the face to all female athletes.” She shared that she had been banned from three upcoming tournaments she had already registered for and been approved to play.

As Davidson awaits the LPGA’s ruling, she remains eligible to compete on the Epson Tour. Following her final round in Florida, Davidson chose not to comment on the policy review.

Meanwhile, notable players who successfully advanced to the Q-Series final stage include recent Great Britain & Ireland Curtis Cup standouts Mimi Rhodes and Sara Byrne, who both turned professional earlier this year. Rhodes tied for first place in the second stage alongside Adela Cernousek, while Byrne finished in sixth.