While transgender golfer Hailey Davidson is hoping to fire her way onto the LPGA Tour at Q School, she’s also firing back at her critics on social media.
One “massive lie” in particular has been irking Davidson, who moved into Stage 2 of the qualifying series at Indian Wells last weekend.
“Every year I have played at Q School, the players have gotten longer and longer to where I was being outdriven by 40 yards consistently in the final round yesterday by one player,” Davidson wrote on Instagram. “Honestly I love seeing it though, especially since there is this massive lie out there that I am outdriving everyone, which is just so very far from the truth and reality.
“Clearly conservative media needs to give these amazing female athletes WAY more credit rather than belittle them and their capabilities all in an attempt to attack transgender athletes.”
Davidson finished tied for 42nd at Indian Wells, shooting 4-under par. However, she was well behind the winner, Ashley Menne, who shot 16-under to win by three strokes of Nika Ito of Japan.
Davidson now moves on to the qualifying tournament, which will be held in Venice, Fla, in October. From there, she can advance to the final qualifying tournament in Mobile, Ala., in December.
Since starting her quest to earn a berth in the U.S. Women’s Open earlier this year and now to vie for a spot on the LPGA Tour, Davidson has come under fire.
On Sunday, former LPGA Tour golfer Amy Olson took a shot at Davidson, posting on X that it was “unfair” that the transgender golfer was allowed to compete against women.
“Unfair. These women have worked too hard and too long to have to stand by and watch a man compete for and take their spot,” Olson posted on X.
“The only fair path forward is a policy based on sex, not gender.”
Olson spent 11 years on the LPGA Tour before retiring in April, with her most notable moments being a second-place finish at the U.S. Women’s Open in 2020 and the Evian Championship in 2018.
Davidson had previously snapped back at her critics, telling them to hold themselves accountable.
“I will never understand athletes who blame a transgender competitor on their own athletic failures,” Davidson posted on Instagram earlier this month. “If you don’t take accountability for your failures then you will never actually be good enough to make it.”