Transgender golfer Hailey Davidson WINS Florida tournament and is now set to receive one of five women’s places on prestigious tour aimed at providing ‘growth opportunities’ for female players
- Transgender golfer, Hailey Davidson, 30 has secured a spot on a prestigious tour designed to offer ‘growth opportunities’ for female players
- Davidson has been striving to become the first transgender woman to earn a Ladies Professional Golf Association (LPGA) tour card
- Her recent victory earns her access to the Epson Tour but it also takes away one of the spots originally intended for a cisgender woman
A transgender golfer has managed to secure her spot on a prestigious tour, specifically designed to provide ‘growth opportunities’ for female players.
Hailey Davidson, 30, who was born in Scotland but now lives in Florida has long been aiming to become the first transgender woman to earn a Ladies Professional Golf Association (LPGA) tour card – and has moved a step closer to her goal.
Davidson won the NXXT Women’s Classic at Mission Inn Resort and Club near Orlando, Florida.
Securing victory gives Davidson access to the Epson Tour, which is awarding exemptions to their top five players.
The tour is the qualifying tour for the LPGA, the Tour Card of which Davidson has been aiming for.
News of the win sparked anger online, with many highlighting how Davidson would likely be able to hit the ball further than a player born female.
The LPGA Tour removed their requirement for golfers to be ‘female at birth’ in 2010.
However, Davidson’s very presence as a trans-woman removes one of those spots from a cisgender woman.
The irony of Davidson’s win is that the exemptions were specifically introduced to allow female golfers the ability to compete on the Epson Tour and provide ‘unparalleled professional growth opportunities for women golfers.’
Davidson touted her victory on X, writing: ‘I was finally able to get my 4th professional win after two playoff holes… Also moved me into 1st place in the season rankings for two Epson Tour exemptions!
‘Most importantly though, thank you to absolutely everyone who has supported me from my fellow competitors to all of you that I may or may not have had the chance to meet yet. Thank you all for helping me wade through any hate and making me feel loved.’
Davidson told Golf Week that the ‘trans issue’ is also a source of angst for her as well.
‘I guess that’s what frustrates me the most. If I play bad, then people will feel justified – ‘Oh well, she played bad and wasn’t good enough.’ – If I do anything good, it won’t be because of the fact that I put my whole life into this … it would be because I’m trans.
‘I want to make sure everything I do is positive to the point that there’s nothing negative people can say,’ she said. ‘I’m not standing up on the first tee saying ‘Oh, I’m Hailey. I’m the trans girl.’ If it comes up, it comes up.’