Caitlyn Jenner has urged transgender golfer Hailey Davidson to withdraw from female competition after winning a recent tournament.
Hailey Davidson emerged as the champion of the NXXT Women’s Classic golf tournament and aspires to make it to the LPGA Tour. However, Caitlyn Jenner, a former USA Olympian, has urged her to pause her career aspirations.
The Scottish golfer won the NXXT Women’s Classic in Florida and has since made headlines around the world. Davidson will now be subjected to further testosterone testing to verify their eligibility and a poll of fellow players on the tour.
Until 2010, the NXXT Tour, a professional golf circuit in the US, adhered to the guidelines set by the LPGA and only allowed individuals who were assigned female at birth to become members. However, this policy was deemed discriminatory after transgender golfer Lana Lawless successfully challenged it in court.
Jenner, an Olympic gold medal-winning Decathlete before her own transition, is adamant Davidson has an unfair advantage over competitors. She believes the LPGA should look to reinstate previous rules.
Jenner wrote on DailyMail.com: “Hailey Davidson must recognize that golf is a game of integrity and withdraw from female competition.
“Then the Ladies Professional Golf Association should follow suit, seize this chance to reverse their grave mistake and restore the spirit of one of the longest-running women’s professional sports associations in the world.”
She added: “Today, far too many are afraid to speak out at all for fear of cancellation or retaliation. Well, I am not afraid – and my perspective, humbly, can cut through so much noise.”
Davidson has vowed to do what is necessary to continue competing within the rules with dreams of eventually earning a place on the LPGA Tour, denying still having an unfair advantage.
“I recognize that I did have an unfair advantage a few years ago,” they said. “I’ve been transitioning for nine years. I’ve been on hormones for almost nine years, I had surgery … coming up almost on three years. I’ve lost just over 50 miles an hour swing speed.”
“Trans athletes shouldn’t be banned, but at the same time, there needs to be regulations in place because it shouldn’t just be a free for all,” Davidson added to Sky. “I think with so many topics, we as a society just need to sit down and listen to each other rather than scream at each other and put hatred on it. I think we forget that people are actually humans at the same time.”
Stuart McKinnon, the CEO of NXXT Golf, has expressed the importance of preserving the competition’s integrity following Davidson’s recent victory. According to McKinnon, the decision to subject Davidson to further testing was made in order to prioritize the well-being of the players and ensure optimal conditions for fair play.
” McKinnon stated that a crucial aspect of our dedication is guaranteeing a safe and inclusive atmosphere for all individuals,” according to Sky. “To address recent occurrences, we have commenced a survey among our touring players to obtain their viewpoints regarding our policies on gender. We believe it is imperative to take into account the perspectives of those who are personally impacted by these regulations.”
” In addition, to uphold the credibility of our standards, we have asked Hailey Davidson to undergo extra testing for testosterone in order to ensure adherence to the relevant guidelines.