Hailey Davidson, a transgender golfer, won the NXXT Women's Pro Tour in Florida in January. He hoped to use the win as a springboard To become the first transgender woman to earn money LPGA Tour Card.
The LPGA Tour removed the “female at birth” requirement in 2010, Fox Sports reported. Davidson began hormone therapy treatments in 2015 and underwent sex reassignment surgery in 2021, Golfweek reported in May 2021. According to the outlet, another Davidson competed Once as a major player.” Mentioned in local qualifying for the US Open in 2015 at Admiral's Cove in Jupiter, Florida.
But now, the Women's Golf League is closing the door on Davidson's attempts to use NXXT to qualify for an LPGA Tour card.
NXXT announced on Friday, International Women's Day, that immediately effective competitors must be biologically female at birth to participate.
Gulfweek Reports:
NXXT Golf announced Friday that, as of now, contestants must be biologically female at birth to participate. A statement from the tour says it underscores the organization's commitment to “preserving the integrity of women's professional golf and ensuring fair competition.” The news comes on International Women's Day.
“As we navigate through an evolving sporting landscape, it is important to maintain the competitive integrity that is the cornerstone of women’s sports,” NXXT Golf CEO Stuart MacKinnon said in a statement.
“Our revised policy is a reflection of our unwavering commitment to celebrating and protecting the achievements and opportunities of female athletes. Protected categories are a fundamental aspect of sport at all levels, and it is essential for our Tour to support these categories for biological females, ensuring a level playing field.
Golfweek adds that after Davidson's win in January, The tour conducted an anonymous survey to provide players with input into the tour's gender policy, although the results of the survey were not published.
Davidson complained about the ruling on Instagram Stories, according to Fox News, saying: “With immediate effect, I have been removed (banned) from the next three NXXT tournaments for which I have already registered and been approved to play.”
“They changed their policy midway through the season, after I had already signed up and finished second in the Player of the Year race,” he wrote.
