Transgender golfer Hailey Davidson inches closer to LPGA despite heat from players; Improves after 69
Transgender golfer Hailey Davidson is inching closer to securing a spot in the final stage of the LPGA Tour Q School. The American golfer joined the field for the qualifying stage, which is the second stage of the Q School, amid backlash received from other players. She, however, had a rough start and shot a round of 78 but quickly bounced back with a round of 69 at the Plantation Golf and Country Club.
The LPGA Tour has three stages of qualification to earn a tour card. The pre-qualifying round was already completed in August 2024, and after that, 195 players secured their spots in the qualifying stage.
The qualifying stage itself started with its first round on October 22 and will conclude on October 25. After the event, the top 35 players and ties will qualify for the final stage, which will take place in December. Moreover, all players who complete four rounds at Plantation will receive limited Epson Tour status. The Epson Tour is the LPGA's official developmental tour.
Hailey Davidson had a rough time playing in the qualifying stage during the opening round on October 22 but managed to bounce back and finished tied for 108th place at 3-over after two rounds.
However, her participation in the LPGA Tour Q-Scool since her appearance in the pre-qualifying round has brought a backslash from the other player. Earlier this week, 275 female players submitted a letter to officials. The letter challenged the rules allowing biological male golfers to compete in women's events.
The letter was reportedly signed and sent just three days before the pre-qualifying stage. As reported by Outkick, the Independent Women's Forum had signed and sent the letter to LPGA Tour officials, along with the US Golf Association and the International Golf Federation.
Part of the letter read (via ESPN),
"It is essential for the integrity and fairness of women's golf to have a clear and consistent participation policy in place based on a player's immutable sex. There are differences between the sexes -- female and male -- that specifically affect our sport of golf."
Hailey Davidson is competing in women's golf events as she meets the eligibility criteria set by the LPGA, according to which players who have undergone gender-affirming surgery after puberty and meet hormone therapy requirements are allowed to compete.
In 2015, Davidson started hormone treatment. She underwent gender-affirming surgery in 2021.
How did Hailey Davidson perform in the LPGA Tour Q School qualifying stage?
Davidson started her outing at the Plantation Golf and Country Club in Venice, Florida, with a round of 6-over 78. She shot two back-to-back bogeys to start the round on the first two holes, followed by another bogey on the fifth hole.
The NXXT Golf player then quickly bounced back and shot a birdie on the seventh but struggled again, making two consecutive bogeys on the eighth and ninth. She shot two more bogeys on the back nine and settled for 6-over after the first round.
In the second round, Hailey Davidson carded four birdies along with a bogey on the 11th. She shot a round of 3-under 69, and with a total of 3-over, she was tied for 108th place after two rounds.
She has two more rounds to improve her game and secure her spot in the final stage of Q School. Notably, she tied for 42nd place in the pre-qualifying stage to secure her spot for this week's event.