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Women's professional golf tour, NXXT Golf, has changed its eligibility criteria to only allow biological female players to compete after transgender golfer Hailey Davidson sparked backlash for winning on the circuit.
Davidson, 30, who was born in Scotland but now lives in Florida, won the NXXT Women's Classic at Mission Inn Resort and Club near Orlando in January.
The victory allowed the Scot to take a step closer to the LPGA with the NXXT awarding its top five players with exemptions to the Epson Tour - a step below the top tier of the women's game.
News of the win sparked anger online, with many highlighting how Davidson, a three-time winner on the tour, would likely be able to hit the ball further than a player born female.
The NXXT had initially stuck to its strict policy of allowing trans-women to take part in the competition alongside those who were born female, only to perform a U-turn on Friday.
The tour announced on International Women's Day that it had reversed its gender policy and that, effective immediately, competitors must be a biological female at birth to participate.
A statement from the tour said that the decision had been made in an effort to underscore the organization's 'commitment to maintaining the integrity of women's professional golf and ensuring fair competition.'
'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.
The news broke during an off-week on the NXXT's schedule with the next tournament, the Dare the Bear Championship, taking place next week from March 11-13. Davidson is not listed in the field.
She last competed on the NXXT at the Royal St. Cloud Women's Championship last week, where she finished tied-24 with a score of ten-over for the tournament.
After one win and two second-place finishes through nine events this year, Davidson currently sits second in the Road to the Epson Tour standings.
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/g...y-davidson-nxxt-policy-biological-female.html
Davidson, 30, who was born in Scotland but now lives in Florida, won the NXXT Women's Classic at Mission Inn Resort and Club near Orlando in January.
The victory allowed the Scot to take a step closer to the LPGA with the NXXT awarding its top five players with exemptions to the Epson Tour - a step below the top tier of the women's game.
News of the win sparked anger online, with many highlighting how Davidson, a three-time winner on the tour, would likely be able to hit the ball further than a player born female.
The NXXT had initially stuck to its strict policy of allowing trans-women to take part in the competition alongside those who were born female, only to perform a U-turn on Friday.
The tour announced on International Women's Day that it had reversed its gender policy and that, effective immediately, competitors must be a biological female at birth to participate.
A statement from the tour said that the decision had been made in an effort to underscore the organization's 'commitment to maintaining the integrity of women's professional golf and ensuring fair competition.'
'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.
The news broke during an off-week on the NXXT's schedule with the next tournament, the Dare the Bear Championship, taking place next week from March 11-13. Davidson is not listed in the field.
She last competed on the NXXT at the Royal St. Cloud Women's Championship last week, where she finished tied-24 with a score of ten-over for the tournament.
After one win and two second-place finishes through nine events this year, Davidson currently sits second in the Road to the Epson Tour standings.
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/g...y-davidson-nxxt-policy-biological-female.html