2024 US Women’s Open: Is Trans Golfer Hailey Davidson Part of the Field?

Even in the face of defeat, Hailey Davidson has found a win! Last week, at the 36-hole qualifier for the US Women’s Open at Bradenton Country Club, she missed out on direct entry into the major by just one stroke, tying for third alongside Jasmine Suwannapura and Louise Olson Campbell. The leader and runner-up of the qualifiers receive automatic entry into the major.

Despite that narrow loss, the 30-year-old’s resilience did not taper. In the playoff with Suwannapura and Campbell, for alternates to play in Pennsylvania, the Scottish professional clinched the win with a stunning 25-foot putt for birdie from the fringe, earning herself the first alternate position for the US Women’s Open.

What exactly is the first alternate for the US Women’s Open?

So does this mean that if anyone chooses to withdraw from the event, Davidson could replace them? Well, not exactly. If, from her qualifying site (Bradenton), either of the two direct qualifiers (Amelie Zalsman, Pimpisa Sisutham) chooses not to compete, the 30-year-old will be the first choice to replace them.

On the other hand, if from one of the other qualifying sites, a qualifier and the alternates opt not to play, then Davidson will be an option (in the order of ‘the re-allotment list’ of the qualifying sites). Similarly, if an exempted player opts to withdraw, the alternates will get a chance in the order of the re-allotment list.

One thing is clear: hope is not dead for Davidson playing in the majors. After being banned from teeing up at the NXXT Tour due to a sudden rule change, having even the slightest chance to appear at the Lancaster Country Golf Club was just the ray of hope Hailey Davidson needed. “I may not have been able to play in any tournaments these last couple of months but that didn’t stop me from continuing to put in the work… Now to cross my fingers and hope for the best!” she exclaimed on Instagram, clearly proud of what she—the only transgender woman to win a pro golf event—had achieved this week and sending a message to her fans that they too should never give up. “No matter what, NEVER GIVE UP!”

Unfortunately, not everyone shares Davidson’s level of excitement for her qualifying, even though she is only an alternate for the moment, and the USGA is allowing her to do so. One of the golf pro’s rivals, who chose not to reveal their identity anonymously, called her out on her feet—all because of her gender.

Hailey Davidson was brutally compared to a neutered dog

Hailey Davidson underwent gender reassignment surgery in 2021 after six years of hormone therapy. Since then, she has been playing as a female golfer, but not without controversy! From being banned at the NXXT on International Women’s Day because of the last-minute change in policy that stated all players would be required to be biologically female at birth to maintain “competitive integrity” in women’s sports to facing other severe criticism, the golf pro has always been at the center of controversy. And this time was no different!

Even though the trans golfer made it all clear in her Instagram post that her possible participation at the major was all legitimate, saying, “I DO have legal documentation from the USGA that allowed me to play in the first place so zero rules were broken as always,” she was still on the forefront of some severe backlash.

One of her anonymous rivals sat down with Mark Harris OutKick to very harshly call out Davidson, comparing her to a castrated dog and questioning the fairness of a trans athlete being present in an all-woman’s field. “There’s not any other way to explain it other than if you neuter a male dog, it’s still a male dog,” said the anonymous golfer. “We never call them a female dog.”

Following that, the rival even suggested creating a separate Trans Open for golfers like Davidson. This, however, is far from necessary because the LPGA’s inclusive gender policy (introduced in 2010) allows trans women to be a part of an all-women field. And with it all being “legal” now, Hailey Davidson is perhaps just one withdrawal away from being a part of the next women’s major!