“Terrible that yall don’t protect the girls/women” - LIV Golf star Anthony Kim criticizes the LPGA, joining 275 female golfers’ protest
Anthony Kim joined a large group of professional players in protest against the presence of transgender players in women's golf. The most high-profile case is that of Hailey Davidson, who is currently competing in the LPGA Tour's Q-School.
Three-time PGA Tour winner Kim expressed his thoughts on the matter in a post on X (formerly Twitter):
"Not a political post. This is #mentalillness @LPGA #lpga terrible that yall don’t protect the girls/women & let this nonsense happen. I’m gonna keep saying but @nike & other big companies yall should stand up for real women. How is this real? #girldad #mentalhealth #nike #usa"
Kim had previously called for "dudes" to be kept out of "women's sports" in an earlier post on X, writing:
"I guess some of yall can’t say I was wrong about everything now. “Men” that thought it was ok for other men to play in women’s sports should have to identify as women. Don’t get upset just my opinion. Keep dudes out of women’s sports. @FoxNews great job #girldad #MentalHealth"
Hailey Davidson made headlines in January 2024 after winning a tournament on the NXXT Women's Pro Tour, a mini-tour based mostly in Florida. The tour subsequently declared her ineligible to play in its tournaments, but the LPGA Tour has not taken the same position.
The gender policy of the world's premier women's tour states that players born male who have undergone gender reassignment surgery after puberty are eligible to compete on the tour. Davidson underwent the procedure in 2021, six years after she began hormone replacement therapy.
In 2024, Hailey Davidson entered the LPGA Tour Q-School and passed the first level, which was held in August at Mission Hills and Indian Wells, California. Davidson will compete in the second phase beginning Tuesday, October 22, at Plantation Golf and Country Club in Florida.
What do the players supported by Anthony Kim claim?
According to a report by OutKick citing the Independent Women's Forum, at least 275 professional players have sent letters to the LPGA, the United States Golf Association, and the International Golf Federation, protesting the presence of transgender players on the women's tours.
One of those players, Lauren Miller, participated in an exclusive interview with OutKick. Miller recently finished her collegiate golf career playing for Mississippi State and Southern Methodist University. She said:
"There is no world where I ever thought this would be the case. I've been talking to my parents about it, and they can't believe they have a daughter who is having to go through this. It's truly shocking to realize kind of where we are today and that this is the state of the world."
According to the OutKick report, the players who signed the letter claim that transgender players have advantages derived from being born male. They claim that these players outperform female players in driving, clubhead speed, and consistency at ball contact, among other golf parameters.