Transgender "Woman" First to Get LPGA Tour Card, Compete on Ladies Professional Golf Tour

'It is absolutely unfair!' Outrage as transgender Golfer is set to become the first transgender woman to win coveted Ladies Professional Golf Association Tour card after seeing-off competition at qualifier

• Hailey Davidson, 29, is on her way to becoming the first transgender woman to earn an LPGA tour card after success in the first two days of Stage I qualifiers
• She shot a 70 on Thursday and hit a 76 during the second round on Friday
• According to the LPGA's rules, any player who shoots under 88 after all three rounds will earn a 2023 Epson Tour Status
• Davidson last competed as a male golfer in 2015, undergoing hormone therapy and completing her transition in 2021
• Mother of tennis star Andy Murray, Judy Murray, has spoken out over possibility that Hailey Davidson, 29, who is trans, may earn an LPGA tour card
• Davidson's position was completely unfair on other biological women, she said

A golfer is poised to become the first transgender woman to earn a Ladies Professional Golf Association (LPGA) tour card after beating much of her competition in the first two qualifying rounds. 

Hailey Davidson, 29, had a strong finish in the first two rounds of the first stage of the LPGA and Epson Tour Qualifying School in Palm Springs this week. 

Davidson, a Scotland native who lives in Florida, shot a 70 in the first round at the Shadow Ridge Golf Club in Palm Desert California, on Thursday, and hit a 76 during the second round on Friday, Fox News reported. 

According to the LPGA's rules, any player who shoots under 88 after all three rounds will earn a 2023 Epson Tour Status, the official qualifying tour for the LPGA. 

Many questioned whether Davidson's inclusion was fair.

That is because athletes who undergo male puberty before transitioning are widely-believed to retain strength advantages - including how far they can hit a golf ball. 

The mother of Wimbledon champion tennis star Andy Murray, Judy Murray, said that Davidson's position was completely unfair on other biological women. 

'Not fair at all. Protect women's sport. Listen to the facts, the scientists and the medics. This is wrong,' she tweeted.

Women deserve a fair playing field. Male bodies remain male bodies with built in advantages,' wrote Dorothy van Koolwijk.

'I am an expert in muscle. It is absolutely unfair. When you add in stronger tendons, ligaments, bones. Longer limbs, wider shoulders, narrow hips. All real advantages,' argued another Twitter user. 

Hailey Davidson, 29, is on her way to becoming the first transgender woman to earn an LPGA tour card after successful showings in the first two days of Stage I qualifiers

Davidson, pictured practicing before the tournament began, shot a 70 in the first round at the Shadow Ridge Golf Club in Palm Desert California, on Thursday, and hit a 76 during the second round on Friday. The third round will be held over the weekend

According to the LPGA's rules, any player who shoots under 88 after all three rounds will earn a 2023 Epson Tour Status, the official qualifying tour for the LPGA, a goal Davidson has been working towards after completing her transition in 2021

Competing against 310 other women, Davidson is tied at 59th place and appears to be in a good position to pass the first stage and move onto Stage II in October against the top 100 players. 

The LPGA Tour had removed its 'female at birth' requirement back in 2010.  

Davidson last competed as a male golfer in 2015, after which, she began hormone therapy treatments and underwent gender reassignment surgery in 2021. 

The top male golfers can typically hit the ball further than their female counterparts

Davidson last competed as a male golfer in 2015, after which, she began hormone therapy treatments.

Davidson said that after her transition, she doesn't have much of an advantage against other female golfers

Davidson claims that the majority of criticism about her competing in the women's circuit is transphobic

Reader Comments:

Complete insanity.

Once a boy goes through puberty, the muscle mass and strength he achieves will always be present, so no woman will ever be able to compete on an equal basis. For anyone to suggest otherwise is simply wrong.

Golfing might be one of the sports where gender doesn't play much of a role..Oh wait, they have different golf leagues based on gender. Never mind.

I didn't need another reason to not watch women sports.

If strength doesn't matter why is the ladies tee further forward on golf courses?

Wimbledon next

The world has gone completely mad.