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 for transgender athletes who undergo surgery after male puberty, having removed its requirement for golfers to be ‘female at birth’ in a policy change in 2010.

However, the organization has performed a U-turn with the updated gender policy, which will come into force in 2025, now requiring players to be assigned female at birth or have transitioned to female before going through male puberty to compete in LPGA tournaments or the eight USGA championships for women.

‘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,’ a statement from the tour read.

‘Players assigned male at birth and who have gone through male puberty are not eligible to compete in the aforementioned events.’Players assigned male at birth must prove they have not experienced any part of puberty beyond the first stage or after age 12, whichever comes first, and then meet limitation standards for testosterone levels

The USGA, headed by CEO and former LPGA commissioner Mike Whan, released a similar statement outlining the same policy changes.

The LPGA and USGA say their policies were geared toward being inclusive of gender identities and expression while striving for equity in competition.

The LPGA said its working group of experts advised that the effects of male puberty allowed for competitive advantages in golf compared with players who had not gone through puberty.

The announcement comes just two days after commissioner Mollie Marcoux Samaan

The announcement comes just two days after commissioner Mollie Marcoux Samaan announced that she will be resigning in January.

‘Our policy is reflective of an extensive, science-based and inclusive approach,’ said Marcoux Samaan, via the Associated Press.

‘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.’

The ‘Competitive Fairness Gender Policy’ for the USGA takes effect for the 2025 championship season that starts with the US Women’s Amateur Four-Ball on May 10-14. Qualifying began late this year, though there were no transgender players who took part.