Hailey Davidson, a transgender golfer who nearly qualified for the U.S. Women’s Open earlier this year, just took a huge step in her career.
Davidson, who transitioned from male to female, is trying to make history as she attempts to make it on the LPGA Tour.
A step towards that history began this weekend when Hailey Davidson needed to finish in the top 96 at Rancho Mirage in California this week during the LPGA Q-Series: Pre-Qualifying Stage.
She did better than that as she finished tied for 42nd place, shooting a four-round total of 284. She shot a one-under 71 on Sunday, per ESPN.
The Pre-Qualifying Stage took place at Mission Hills Country Club and Indian Wells Golf Club in Rancho, Mirage, California.
According to the LPGA, they have an inclusion policy for transgender athletes who undergo surgery after male puberty.
Click on ‘Follow Us’ and get notified of the most viral Golf stories via Google! Follow Us
The LPGA Tour actually removed its requirement for golfers to be ‘female at birth’ in a policy change in 2010. They now require players like Hailey Davidson to submit a written declaration stating that they identify as female, proof of gender reassignment surgery, and evidence of at least one year of hormonal therapy maintaining testosterone levels at a specified range.
The policy states that it aims to offer “[transgender athletes’] avenue to membership and opportunity to participate in events, and in an effort to assure fair competition for all members and participants.”
For Davidson, she will now head to Florida to play in the qualifying tournament at Plantation Golf and Country Club in October.
She will need to finish very high in order to advance to the final qualifying tournament in December.
Transgender Golfer Hailey Davidson Throws Shocking Insults At Biological Female Rivals
Transgender golfer Hailey Davidson is not staying quiet when it comes to others not liking her presence or complaining about her success.
Davidson, who was banned from competing in NXXT Golf tournaments earlier this year, posted on her Instagram saying: ‘I will never understand athletes who blame a transgender competitor on their own athletic failures.
‘If you don’t take accountability for your failures, then you will never actually be good enough to make it.’
