Transgender golfer Hailey Davidson has been banned from the women’s professional golf tour, NXXT Golf after it changed its eligibility criteria to only allow biological female players to compete.
Davidson sparked backlash when she won on the circuit in January which allowed her to take a step closer to the LPGA Tour.
The NXXT Tour awards its top five players exemptions to the Epson Tour which is the second tier below the LPGA Tour.
The 30-year-old was born in Scotland but resides in Florida and she was sitting pretty in second on the Road to Epson Tour standings with 1,801 points following a win and two second place finishes after nine events.
The Tour announced on International Women’s Day that it had reversed its gender policy with immediate effect stating that players must be biological females from birth to be eligible to compete.
‘As we navigate through the evolving landscape of sports, it is crucial to uphold the competitive integrity that is the cornerstone of women’s sports,’ NXXT CEO Stuart McKinnon said.
‘Our revised policy is a reflection of our unwavering commitment to celebrating and protecting the achievements and opportunities of female athletes. Protected categories are a fundamental aspect of sports at all levels, and it is essential for our Tour to uphold these categories for biological females, ensuring a level playing field.’
‘NXXT Golf is honored to lead in promoting and advancing women’s golf, providing a platform that not only highlights the exceptional talent of women golfers worldwide but also ensures the competition remains equitable for all of our players,’ he added.
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