Rival of trans golfer Hailey Davidson begs LPGA to make changes and stop her competing: ‘Up to them to protect us’

Professional golfer Olivia Schmidt has called on the LPGA to change their rule book and stop trans athletes like Hailey Davidson competing against biological women on the course.

Davidson, 31, is currently trying to earn her professional status on the women’s tour, but has received plenty of criticism with almost 300 rival players opposing her inclusion in LPGA qualifying events.

While Davidson has been open about her transition and insists she is regularly outdriven by her opponents on the course, her rivals are still calling for her to be banned from the women’s game, and Schmidt is the latest to speak out.

In a YouTube video titled ‘Tee Time: Keep Women’s Golf Female’, Schmidt said of the LPGA: ‘I think that when you have a big organization that only protects one person compared to 400 others, that says a lot about who they are and how they handle themselves. They’re protecting the few among the many.

‘The bottom line is we can fight this all we want, but the true change comes from the LPGA. They are the only ones with the power to stop it. It’s up to them to protect us.

Olivia Schmidt (right) has called upon the LPGA to change their rule-book and ‘protect’ women

‘I want my kids one day to chase their dreams and not have these distractions in their way. I’m just praying that [the policy] gets changed, and I’m praying that we can find a way to kind of find some common ground in that and hopefully for the next generation of golfers.’

Alongside the video, a stat claims that ‘male golfers are allowed to compete in women’s events, despite the fact they have an estimated 30% performance advantage in driving distance compared to female golfers.’ 

In recent months, though, Davidson herself has hit back at that, and in a recent LPGA Qualifying event, she finished 95th out of 190 golfers and failed to make it past the second stage of the competition.

In an Instagram post in August, Davidson said: ‘Every year I have played at Q School, the players have gotten longer and longer to where I was being outdriven by 40 yards consistently in the final round yesterday by one player.

‘Honestly I love seeing it though, especially since their [sic] is this massive lie out there that I am outdriving everyone, which is just so very far from the truth and reality.’

Davidson last competed as a male golfer in 2015, after which, she began hormone therapy treatments and underwent gender reassignment surgery in 2021. 

Davidson, who played NCAA men’s Division II and III golf, is seen in 2015 prior to transitioning

She was banned from competing in NXXT Golf tournaments earlier this year but is still permitted to play on the LPGA Tour. 

According to the LPGA, they have an inclusion policy for transgender athletes who undergo surgery after male puberty. 

The LPGA Tour removed its requirement for golfers to be ‘female at birth’ in a policy change in 2010.

They require players to submit a written declaration stating that they identify as female, proof of gender reassignment surgery, and evidence of at least one year of hormonal therapy maintaining testosterone levels at a specified range.