Transgender golfer increases chances of LPGA Tour membership with women’s event win

Hailey Davidson is attempting to become the first transgender woman to earn an LPGA Tour Card and recently won a NXXT Women’s Pro Tour event, but still has a long way to go

Transgender golfer Hailey Davidson is making waves in the world of golf, winning a women’s event and now setting her sights on a place on the LPGA Tour. Despite facing some backlash, Davidson is taking it one tournament at a time.

She recently competed in a NXXT Women’s Pro Tour event in Florida, where she emerged victorious after two playoff holes against Lauren Miller. However, despite her recent success, Davidson still has a long journey ahead to secure a spot on the LPGA Tour.

The Epson Tour, which acts as an LPGA development tour, is partnered with the NXXT. A golfer must place among the top five earners on the NXXT points list in order to be eligible for the LPGA Tour and to receive two exemptions into Epson Tour fields. With 1,320 points overall, Davidson is currently in the lead in the points table.

However, to get these exemptions, the NXXT must host a minimum of 10 events with at least 40 players each. In her most recent win, Davidson beat 24 players and would need to win an Epson Tour event to secure a place on that tour. A top-10 finish in an Epson Tour event as a non-member would also secure her spot in the next tournament’s field.

Even though Davidson isn’t even close to earning an LPGA card, he used Instagram to dispel any rumors. She wrote: “It’s always interesting how, up until there’s any kind of success, nobody gets upset. Even though this win was incredible, I am incredibly far from the LPGA Tour and still have a lot of work to do in order to possibly earn a spot there in the future, despite what every article claims. I refuse to let hatred triumph, especially when it is founded on false information.”

Davidson started hormone treatments and had gender reassessment surgery in January 2021, as required by the LPGA’s Gender Policy. The LPGA Tour removed its “female at birth” requirement in 2010, after the players voted for it.