VENICE, Fla. (AP) — Transgender golfer Hailey Davidson began the second stage of LPGA qualifying Tuesday with a 78 as reports surfaced of 275 female players signing a letter asking top golf organizations to repeal policies that allow people assigned male at birth to compete in women’s events.
Outkick reported that the Independent Women’s Forum shared the letter sent Aug. 19 to the LPGA, the U.S. Golf Association and the International Golf Federation. The letter was sent three days before the pre-qualifying stage of Q-school.
Davidson, who narrowly missed out on a playoff during U.S. Women’s Open qualifying this year, tied for 42nd in LPGA pre-qualifying to advance to the next stage.
The LPGA currently allows players who have undergone gender-affirming surgery after puberty and meet hormone therapy requirements.
Davidson, who has been open about her transition, said in an Instagram post in March that the LPGA’s “policy is working pretty well,” given the lack of success by transgender players at the highest levels of women’s golf.
Golfweek obtained a memo from Commissioner Mollie Marcoux Samaan in August in which she informed LPGA and Epson Tour players the tour would conclude a review of its policy…
