WASHINGTON (TNND) -- The Ladies Professional Golf Association on Wednesday released an updated gender policy which bars competitors who have undergone male puberty from competing in women's events.

LPGA says it arrived at the decision based on the recommendation of "a broad array of stakeholders." The move will uphold "competitive integrity" throughout the league's women's competitions and tournaments.

Players who have experienced male puberty, the league wrote, have "competitive advantages in golf performance" compared to those who have not, which creates an unlevel playing field.

"Players assigned male at birth and who have gone through male puberty are not eligible to compete in the aforementioned events," the league wrote.

LPGA acknowledged these golfers can take advantage of open events which allow any player, regardless of sex, to compete.

"Our policy is reflective of an extensive, science-based and inclusive approach," LPGA Commissioner Mollie Marcoux Samaan said in a statement. "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 decision follows transgender golfer Hailey Davidson's competition in the Epson Tour. That qualifying event is known as the "road to the LPGA" and regularly sees its top players promoted to the professional women's league.

Though Davidson failed to advance to the LPGA, she earned Epson Tour status in 2025. LPGA's new rule, however, appears to have blocked her from competing.

Davidson took first place at the NXXT Women's Classic in Florida earlier this year. She thanked supporters who helped her "wade through any hate" while criticizing her detractors.

"It's always interesting how no one gets angry until there is any form of success," Davidson noted. "While this win was amazing, unlike every article is saying, I am so incredibly far from the LPGA Tour with a lot of work to be done to possibly earn my way there one day. I will never allow hate to win, especially when based in some misinformation."

Longtime political commentator Bill Maher and astrophysicist Neil deGrasse Tyson engaged in a fiery exchange over transgender competitors in women's sports last month. Their conversation surrounded an article in Scientific American which suggested the differences between how males and females perform in sports are societal, not biological.

"Why can't you just say this is not scientific and Scientific American should do better?" Maher asked.

Tyson appeared to dodged the question, claiming women may have an advantage over men in only some sports, such as long distance swimming.