The R&A has introduced a new “fair competition policy” which will see eligibility rules changed for transgender athletes competing in their events from next season.
From the start of 2025, a golfer entering female professional and female non-professional competitions organized by the R&A must be female at birth or have transitioned to female before the onset of male pregnancy to to qualify for competition.
Players who are assigned male at birth and have experienced male puberty are not eligible to compete in these events, but may enter male professional amateur tournaments and elite organized by the R&A.
“We have carefully reviewed the best available medical and scientific advice regarding the participation of transgender athletes in elite level golf tournaments,” said Martin Slumbers, chief executive of the R&A.
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Speaking in January, transgender golfer Hailey Davidson discussed her ambitions to play on the professional tours and insisted she does not have an unfair physical advantage.
“We decided that the right thing to do was to update our entry conditions to maintain fairness in our female professional and non-professional competitions.
“While we believe that golf should be open to all and are committed to developing the sport, we recognize that it is our responsibility to ensure that players in the our elite competitions to compete fairly and equally.
The updated policy would deny eligibility to transgender golfer Hailey Davidson, who missed qualifying for this year's US Women's Open by one shot and also tried to qualify for the LPGA Tour next season .
Hailey Davidson is among the players who will no longer be able to compete in women's events
The policy was developed following consultation with medical and scientific experts, who reviewed the best available research on transgender participation in high performance sport. Evidence showed that golf is a gender-biased sport, in which the male gender confers a performance advantage.
These requirements do not apply at the recreational level, where the sport supports inclusion through the World Handicap system, which allows golfers worldwide to play and compete together on a fair basis, regardless of age, ability, background or gender.
The new policy follows those implemented on the LPGA Tour, which earlier this month stated that athletes who are assigned female at birth are eligible to compete on the LPGA Tour. Epson Tour, Women's European Tour, and in all other elite LPGA tournaments.
Players who were assigned male at birth and have undergone male puberty are not eligible to compete, with the USGA introducing a “Competitive Gender Equality Policy” that will take effect from the 2025 tournament season .
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