A transgender golfer has filed a lawsuit challenging 2024 United States Golf Association policy changes in women’s professional golf after being denied entry into a US Women’s Open qualifier last year.

Hailey Davidson is suing the USGA, the LPGA, three LPGA officials, and a New Jersey golf club which hosted the qualifier, arguing that updated policies unlawfully excluded her from competition.

The case, filed Thursday (19 March) in New Jersey, seeks unspecified damages.

At the centre of the dispute is a gender policy introduced in the USGA and LPGA for 2025 and beyond. The policy mandates that players in women’s categories must be assigned female at birth or have transitioned to female before puberty.

Davidson, 33, transitioned in her early 20s and underwent gender-affirming surgery in 2021, something which was required in a previous LPGA gender policy.

Davidson had previously competed in a US Open qualifier and LPGA Qualifying School under earlier rules in 2024. Under the new criteria, however, she was deemed ineligible to enter the same pathway the following year.

In her complaint, Davidson argues the rule effectively shuts out many transgender women from USGA women’s events and the LPGA, particularly given that access to puberty blockers or early transition care is restricted in many parts of the US.

She also claims the golf club hosting the qualifier deflected responsibility by stating that eligibility decisions were controlled by the USGA.

The LPGA, which is aware of the lawsuit, said in a statement it stands by its policy, describing it as the result of an expert-led process aimed at maintaining fairness in the elite women’s game.

Davidson has competed on smaller tours, including winning an event in Florida two years ago, before similar restrictions were introduced there.