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Transgender Golfer Hailey Davidson Sues USGA, LPGA Over Women's Eligibility Rules

The case challenges puberty-based eligibility rules adopted for 2025 that Davidson says effectively bar most transgender women from women's events.

Overview

  • Davidson filed the New Jersey lawsuit on Thursday, naming the USGA, the LPGA, three LPGA officials, and Hackensack Golf Club, and she seeks unspecified damages.
  • The complaint says the USGA denied her entry to a 2025 U.S. Women's Open qualifier at Hackensack Golf Club, and alleges the club unlawfully deferred all eligibility decisions to the USGA.
  • USGA and LPGA policies updated for 2025 require competitors be assigned female at birth or have transitioned before male puberty to enter women's events.
  • Davidson began hormone treatment in 2015 and had gender-affirming surgery in 2021, transitioned after puberty, and competed under earlier 2024 rules in a U.S. Open qualifier and LPGA Q-School.
  • The LPGA said its policy protects competitive integrity and that it will let the legal process proceed, while the USGA did not immediately comment; Davidson also separately sued the NXXT tour, whose attorneys from America First Legal moved to dismiss in February.