“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.”
On Friday, NXXT Golf CEO Stuart McKinnon announced that effective immediately, athletes who want to play in in the Women’s tour must be biological women.
"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. 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," McKinnon wrote.
A press release stated that the updated policy came as the result of "comprehensive research, thoughtful deliberation, and extensive consultations with a broad spectrum of stakeholders in the sports community."
McKinnon said that the tour 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."
In January, the tour "initiated a poll among our tour players to gather their opinions on our gender policy" after a biological male player celebrated winning the NXXT Women’s Classic.
McKinnon said at the time that the tour had also requested that the player in question, Hailey Davidson, "undergo additional testosterone testing to ensure compliance with the appropriate guidelines."
"The recent discussions surrounding Hailey Davidson’s participation and success on our tour have highlighted a range of viewpoints. The NXXT Women’s Pro Tour acknowledges these perspectives while emphasizing that our policies and decisions are guided by the frameworks set by the LPGA and USGA. Our primary focus remains on supporting our players' aspirations and contributing to their journey towards the LPGA," McKinnon wrote.
Davidson’s win in the tournament put the transgender player in line to receive one of 10 exemptions to play on the Epson Tour, which is a qualifying tour to earn a spot on the Ladies Professional Golf Association (LPGA) tour.
In a set of Instagram story posts, Davidson criticized the decision and revealed that the transgender athlete had been removed from upcoming tournaments.
"Do people not understand how good LPGA players are and how far they hit?" Davidson asked.
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