Golfer Hailey Davidson, a biological male who identifies as a woman, is under fire after being named as the first alternate Monday following a third-place finish in U.S. Women’s Open qualifying.
Davidson, who won the NXXT Women’s Classic tournament in Florida earlier this year, appears to be on a pursuit to qualify for a women’s major golf tournament as a transgender athlete, and that has not sat well with many on social media.
“@USGA I’m not sure what the The U.S. WOMENS Open is anymore because I don’t understand what a women is anymore,” LPGA pro Dana Fall responded to Davidson’s play in post targeted at the United States Golf Association.
USA Track and Field veteran Carilyn Johnson also criticized the actions of the USGA.
“@USGA saying ‘If men can’t win in the male category, we support them playing in the women’s category where they have a better shot, because men should never have to accept defeat. Ever,'” she posted on X.
In the past, Davidson has not shied away from critics alleging men hold an unfair advantage in athletics over women.
“Honestly, I 100% agree,” Davidson said. “The men do have advantages. Say you get a trans person on hormones for a year, no surgery, nothing … of course, for the most part, they’re gonna have an advantage.”
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“I don’t believe trans people should be banned from sports, but I do believe there need to be guidelines in effect.”
Davidson is at least three years removed from gender reassignment surgery.
