DAYTONA BEACH, Florida – The LPGA has updated its Gender Policy for Competition Eligibility, effective starting with the 2025 season.
The policy—informed by a working group of top experts in medicine, science, sport physiology, golf performance and gender policy law—was developed with input from a broad array of stakeholders and prioritizes the competitive integrity of women’s professional tournaments and elite amateur competitions.
This working group has advised that the effects of male puberty confer competitive advantages in golf performance compared to players who have not undergone male puberty.
Accordingly, under the new policy, athletes who are assigned female at birth are eligible to compete on the LPGA Tour, Epson Tour, Ladies European Tour, and in all other elite LPGA competitions. Players assigned male at birth and who have gone through male puberty are not eligible to compete in the aforementioned events.
The policies governing the LPGA’s recreational programs and non-elite events utilize different criteria to provide opportunities for participation in the broader LPGA community. For more details, please refer to the full policy at lpga.com/gender-policy.
Golf offers opportunities for all athletes to compete at professional and elite amateur levels. Individual competitions are generally categorized as “women’s events,” which have specific eligibility requirements, or “open events,” where any player, regardless of sex, is eligible to compete.
“Our policy is reflective of an extensive, science-based and inclusive approach,” said LPGA Commissioner Mollie Marcoux Samaan. “The policy represents our continued commitment to ensuring that all feel welcome within our organization, while preserving the fairness and competitive equity of our elite competitions.”