MAN wins WOMENS golf championship in Florida.
— Oli London (@OliLondonTV) January 21, 2024
Transgender golfer Hailey Davidson, 30, has won the NXXT Women's Classic at Mission Inn Resort and Club near Orlando, Florida.
He will now be able to join the Ladies Epson Tour after securing one of five women’s places.
Source:… pic.twitter.com/23Qrmytgor
Hailey Davidson, a transgender golfer, is navigating both her LPGA Qualifying School journey and ongoing policy discussions surrounding transgender athletes’ participation in women’s sports. Davidson, 30, shot a six-over 78 in her first round at Stage II of Q School, placing her 171st in a field of 195 players, while the top 35 advance to Final Qualifying. The event in Venice, Florida, also underscores the growing conversation around the LPGA’s participation policies, which currently allow transgender women to compete, given they meet hormone and surgery requirements.
Concerns over fairness have been raised by more than 275 female golfers who signed a letter sent to the LPGA, USGA, and International Golf Federation in August, urging a review of policies permitting transgender women to participate in women’s events. The letter, reportedly sent by the Independent Women’s Forum, argues for a participation policy “based on a player’s immutable sex,” citing potential competitive advantages in sports like golf where physical factors are influential.
Hailey Davidson’s Journey and Recent Success
Hailey Davidson, originally from Scotland but now living in Florida, started her transition in 2015 and met LPGA requirements after her 2021 gender-affirming surgery. Competing on women’s mini-tours, she found success with a win on the NXXT Golf Tour earlier this year. However, the NXXT Tour subsequently updated its eligibility criteria to restrict participation to athletes “female at birth.”
Davidson is still in contention for partial status on the Epson Tour if she completes all four rounds at Stage II of LPGA Q School. In May, she nearly advanced to the U.S. Women’s Open, falling just one stroke short in a 36-hole qualifier. Davidson’s determination to compete at the highest levels of women’s golf continues, though her journey has spurred ongoing dialogue within the LPGA. LPGA commissioner Mollie Marcoux Samaan noted that a thorough policy review is underway, with a commitment to fair competition at the forefront, and updates expected by the 2025 season.
Hailey Davidson’s performance at Q School represents more than a bid for an LPGA card. As discussions continue around participation policies, she’s pushing forward, determined to find her place in professional women’s golf.
