Olivia Schmidt, a professional golfer, is among several female players expressing dissatisfaction with the LPGA Tour’s current gender participation policy. In a documentary series called ‘Tee Time: Keep Women’s Golf Female’, Schmidt shared her frustration at competing against a player who was previously male before gender reassignment surgery during her efforts to reach the LPGA Tour. Despite reaching round two of the LPGA Tour Q-School alongside Hailey Davidson, a trans golfer, Schmidt missed out on advancing to the top tier and earned Epson Tour status. This disappointment led Schmidt to support the Independent Women’s Forum’s campaign urging the LPGA Tour to change its rules.
The LPGA Tour changed its participation policy in 2010 to allow trans-identified male golfers to participate in the women’s division after undergoing hormone therapy and a gonadectomy. However, Schmidt believes this policy is unfair and discriminatory towards golfers who were born as biological females. She is calling on the LPGA Tour to make a change to protect female golfers and ensure fair competition. Schmidt and 274 of her peers signed personalized letters urging the governing bodies to reassess the current guidelines. The IWF has reported that the LPGA Tour is planning to introduce new guidelines for trans-identifying athletes this month.
Schmidt emphasized that the women involved in this campaign are not ‘anti-trans’ but rather pro-women, seeking a fair opportunity to achieve their dreams. The movement aims to include women and maintain the integrity of women’s golf. Schmidt expressed her hopes for the policy to be changed for the next generation of golfers and acknowledged the sacrifices she has made in pursuit of her career. Despite the challenges and sacrifices, she remains hopeful that her efforts will lead to positive change in the sport.
In response to the concerns raised by Schmidt and other female golfers, the LPGA Tour stated that they are conducting a thorough review of their Gender Policy. They plan to conclude their work by the end of the year and announce any updates for the 2025 season. The LPGA Tour emphasized their commitment to ensuring fair competition for all members and participants. Schmidt and her peers are optimistic that their advocacy efforts will lead to positive changes in the rules and regulations governing gender participation in women’s golf.
