The NXXT Women's Pro Tour has submitted a motion to dismiss legal proceedings brought by transgender golfer Hailey Davidson, who challenged the organisation's policy preventing biological males from participating in women's events.
Stuart McKinnon, the tour's chief executive, confirmed this week that lawyers from the America First Policy Institute had filed the dismissal request on behalf of the Florida-based circuit.
"We are asking the courts to dismiss the claims and we're addressing the matter," McKinnon told Fox News Digital.
The CEO maintained that the policy change was fundamentally about safeguarding female competition.
NXXT Women's Pro Tour chief Stuart McKinnon has responded after a trans player sued the tour
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"This was about simply protecting women's sports. So the goal was really clarity and competitive integrity, and, as a professional tour, we believe it was our responsibility to define those categories," he stated.
Prior to implementing the restriction, McKinnon personally contacted Davidson to propose an alternative arrangement within the tour's structure.
"I had a talk with Davidson. And at that time, prior to the change, I had offered Davidson the opportunity to play in an open division," McKinnon explained.
"In that open division, I had offered Hailey Davidson to play in that open division and even a management position in that open division, and we would allow Davidson to play for free.
Hailey Davidson declined the offer to cover Q School fees
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"We were very generous and respectful of what Davidson wanted to do.
"My message to Davidson was simply that perhaps your legacy is forging the path for future generations. But it can't be right now in this women's tour right now, when I'm running it."
The tour was prepared to cover Davidson's Q School fees as part of this package.
Davidson declined the offer.
McKinnon's decision followed consultation with the tour's competitors through an anonymous survey, which yielded a substantial response within days.
"Within two or three days, we had 80 per cent plus response rate, and it was clear that the players were speaking, that they felt the policy change was in order," McKinnon said. "The theme was that it was unfair, and they wanted us to address our policies."
A small number of female golfers voiced support for permitting Davidson to continue competing, though McKinnon noted they "respectfully disagreed with one another."
Davidson's legal action contends that the tour breached contractual obligations by barring participation in the Winter Series, retaining membership and entry fees, and withholding Epson Tour exemptions the golfer had previously earned through competition.
Despite the ongoing litigation, McKinnon expressed confidence that operations would proceed unimpeded.
"Nothing has changed from an operational standpoint. We're going to continue to grow," he stated.
The organisation has broadened its portfolio considerably, establishing the NXXT Battle Tour as a professional mixed-gender competition alongside the NXXT Gen Tour for elite junior players of both sexes. A partnership with golfing legend Sir Nick Faldo for the NXXT Faldo Junior Tour was recently announced.
NXXT proved to be among the pioneering women's circuits in adopting stricter eligibility criteria. The LPGA and USGA subsequently followed suit in December 2024, updating their own regulations to restrict women's events to competitors assigned female at birth who had not undergone male puberty.