Trans golfer Hailey Davidson won the NXXT Women's Classic Golf tournament. This victory means Davidson is even closer to competing in the LPGA. The result led several prominent female athletes to speak out in protest. Martina Navratilova posted on her X account that "this really needs to end sooner rather than later. Male bodies, however they might identify, do not belong in women's sports!"
This really needs to end sooner rather than later. Male bodies, however they might identify, do not belong in women’s sports! https://t.co/QzoqhVW5MO
— Martina Navratilova (@Martina) January 21, 2024
The LPGA confirms that he "meets the requirements"
Davidson, whose name as a man was James Scott Davidson, won his first women's tournament in 2021, five years after he began his transition to a woman. He underwent hormonal treatment and a sex change operation. That same year, the LPGA confirmed that he was "eligible to join the league's qualifying school and work toward her women's golf membership card."
Davidson celebrated the victory on his Instagram account, which brings him closer to the Epson Tour. He said that his victory was a surprise because he started the day three shots behind the leader. Davidson thanked his fans for their support and for "helping me wade through any hate and making me feel loved."
More than 150 points ahead of the second-ranked golfer
Although Davidson claims that since his treatment he has worked to reduce his strength, the truth is that he tops the ranking for the Epson Tour with a 150-point lead over second place María Bohórquez and has almost double the points of the third-ranked golfer.
