Golfer makes history as first trans woman to ever win a professional US tournament
Hailey Davidson made history at the Providence Golf Club in Polk County, Florida(Instagram/@haileydgolf)
Scottish golfer Hailey Davidson has become the first transgender woman ever to win gold in a professional US tournament.
Davidson, 28, who moved to the US with her family in 1997, claimed victory in a mini-tour event at Providence Golf Club in Polk County, Florida.
She is the first trans woman to scoop a title in a pro competition, which only became possible after the United States Golf Association and the Ladies Professional Golf Association changed eligibility rules.
“I never thought I could play golf competitively as a trans woman so I always thought it was golf or being myself,” Davidson told Click Orlando after her victory.
The star now has her sights set on competing in the Scottish Open and the Open Championship and “making Scotland proud”.
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Davidson was born with her feet facing backwards and required dozens of medical procedures throughout her childhood, so any sport that involved running wasn’t an option.
She started playing golf with her father at 13 years old and has never looked back.
Speaking to the Scottish Daily Record, she condemned the crusade of anti-trans legislation in the US that would prevent young trans people from competing in sports.
“Opposition to transgender women playing in female sport irritates me due to most being based on societal stereotypes and not actual facts and real athlete experiences,” she said.
“During the tournament that I won on May 13, I wasn’t the longest hitter in the group and it was the same with the last tournament I played in, where I was being outdriven by a three wood on a few occasions.
“I hit the ball 270 yards and the longest LPGA player hits 291. I lost 30 yards of distance from all of the years of hormones and the lack of testosterone my body no longer creates. So, basically, what advantage do I have again?”
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