Calls for fairness as golfers urge ban on men from women’s competitions

A letter from 275 professional female golfers has called on the Ladies Professional Golf Association (LPGA) to ban men who identify as women from their competitions.

The call followed Hailey Davidson’s participation in the qualifying competition of the LPGA Tour. Davidson is a man who has undergone ‘gender reassignment surgery’ and is eligible to compete at elite-level events under the current rules.

In 2010, LPGA players voted to remove the tour requirement that golfers be “female at birth” after a transgender player sued the Association for excluding biological males.

Biological differences

Highlighting biological differences between the sexes, the letter stated: “The male advantage in driving the ball is estimated around a 30 per cent performance advantage; this is an enormous difference in the context of sport.”

It added: “The anatomical differences are not removed with male testosterone suppression. There is no way to turn a male into a female. Being female is not equated to being male with a reduction in strength.”

The athletes urged the association to “act promptly to protect the integrity of the sport that we love”.

‘Integrity and fairness’

The letter stated: “We all know there can be no equal athletic opportunity for women without a separate female golf category.”

It continued: “It is essential for the integrity and fairness of women’s golf to have a clear and consistent participation policy in place based on a player’s immutable sex. There are differences between the sexes – female and male – that specifically affect our sport of golf.”

Recently retired professional golfer Amy Olson said: “These women have worked too hard and too long to have to stand by and watch a man compete for and take their spot”.

In response to these concerns, LPGA Commissioner Mollie Marcoux Samaan said that the association planned to review its current policy ready for the 2025 season.