LPGA Tour updates gender eligibility policy, bans ‘players assigned male at birth’

The LPGA Tour updated its gender eligibility policy on Wednesday, which will take effect at the start of the 2025 season.

Men who have gone through male puberty are barred from the LPGA Tour, the organization said in a news release. Epson tourLadies European Tour and all other elite LPGA competitions.

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The LPGA and LET logos during the ISPS Handa World Invitational at Galgorm Castle Golf Club in Ballymena, Antrim, United Kingdom on August 18, 2023. (Ramsey Cardy/Sportsfile via Getty Images)

“Players who are assigned male at birth and have gone through male puberty are not eligible to participate in the above events,” the organization said. “The policies governing LPGA recreation programs and non-elite events use different criteria to ensure opportunities to participate in the wider LPGA community.”

The announcement came after two professional golfers and one retired player called the organization change your rules.

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“Golf offers opportunities for all athletes to compete at the professional and elite amateur levels,” the LPGA Tour said. “Individual competitions are generally classified as either ‘women’s events’, which have specific eligibility requirements, or ‘open events’, where any player, regardless of gender, is eligible.”

Outgoing LPGA Commissioner Molly Marcus Saman said the policy change is based on science.

The announcement came after two professional golfers and a retired player called on the organization to change the rules. (Mark LeBrick – USA Today Sports)

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“Our policy reflects a broad, science-based and inclusive approach,” said Marcus Saman. “The policy reflects our ongoing commitment to making sure everyone feels welcome in our organization while maintaining the fairness and competitiveness of our elite competition.”

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