Transgender golfer Hailey Davidson missed qualifying for the U.S. Women’s Open on Monday by one stroke. Davidson finished in a three-way tie for third in the 36-hole qualifier at Bradenton (Fla.) Country Club with rounds of 70-73, emerging as the first alternate from the event. She tied two-time LPGA Tour winner Jasmine Suwannapura and Louis Olsson Campbell of Sweden. Suwannapura is the second alternate.
Only the top two players advanced from the 58-player field. Amateurs Amelie Zalsman from St. Petersburg, Fla., and Pimpisa Sisutham of Thailand claimed the two spots available to compete at Lancaster (Pa.) Country Club later this month. Zalsman medaled at one-under 141 with a 66-75, while Sisutham carded a 68-74 to take second place at even par.
A native of Scotland who lives in the U.S., Davidson received a scholarship to play for the men’s team at Wilmington University, an NCAA Division II school, in 2011. Davidson then transferred to D-III Christopher Newport University.
Davidson started transitioning in 2015 and underwent gender reassignment surgery in January 2021, a requirement under both the USGA and LPGA’s gender policies to be eligible to compete. Davidson tried to qualify for the LPGA twice, failing to get out of Stage I in 2021 and 2022.
This year, Davidson competed on the NXXT Tour, a mini-tour based in Florida. She was a three-time winner on the tour, including one title in six starts in 2024, but in March, the tour changed its policy to require that all players be a biological female at birth to participate. Davidson remains in fourth place in the tour’s player of the year race.
This article was originally published on golfdigest.com
