Only biological female players are now eligible to compete on the women\u2019s professional golf tour, NXXT Golf, following the reaction against transgender golfer Hailey Davidson for her successes on the circuit.<\/p>\n
The NXXT Women\u2019s Classic was won in January at Mission Inn Resort and Club, which is close to Orlando, by Davidson, 30, a Florida resident who was born in Scotland.<\/p>\n
With the NXXT giving its top five players exemptions to the Epson Tour, which is a level below the elite division of the women\u2019s game, the triumph allowed the Scot to move one step closer to the LPGA.
\nOnline users were incensed by the victory, with many pointing out that Davidson, a three-time tour winner, would probably be able to hit the ball farther than a player who was born a woman.<\/p>\n
After initially upholding its stringent stance and permitting transgender women to compete with naturally born female competitors, the NXXT made a U-turn on Friday. On International Women\u2019s Day, the tour declared that it had changed its gender policy and that competitors had to be born into a female biological family in order to compete.<\/p>\n
The decision was taken to emphasize the organization\u2019s \u201ccommitment to maintaining the integrity of women\u2019s professional golf and ensuring fair competition,\u201d according to a statement from the tour.<\/p>\n