A transgender golfer is one step closer to having a spot on the Ladies Professional Golf Association (LPGA) tour.
Over the weekend, Hailey Davidson, who was born male, was among the female golfers who advanced to the next stage of Q School to earn a LPGA card. The results led the LPGA commissioner to send out a memo to players promising the tour will conclude a review of its current gender policy by the end of the year.
On Wednesday’s show, Megyn was joined by former Miss California USA and community activist Carrie Prejean Boller to discuss Davidson’s success and what women need to do to stand up for their sports.
[Editor’s Note: You can learn more about Megyn’s position on preferred pronouns here.]
Trans Golfers in LPGA
Davidson was among the 100 players who advanced out of the LPGA’s Pre-Qualifying Stage on Sunday. He finished tied for forty-second at the California event, shooting 4-under par. The golfer made it through to the next qualifying tournament, which will be held in Venice, Florida, beginning October 15. The final event of the series will take place in Mobile, Alabama, in December.
Davidson competed as a male golfer prior to starting hormone therapy treatments in 2015 and had gender reassignment surgery in 2021. In 2021 and 2022, he failed to advance out of Q School and previously caused a stir when he suggested women who are beaten by trans athletes need to try harder.
“I will never understand athletes who blame a transgender competitor on their own athletic failures,” Davidson wrote on Instagram while practicing for Q School. “If you don’t take accountability for your failures then you will never actually be good enough to make it.”
He struck a similar tone Monday. “Third time’s a charm! Finally made it through @lpga_tour Q Series: Pre-qualifying,” Davidson wrote on Instagram. “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. Honestly I love seeing it though, especially since their is this massive lie out there that I am outdriving everyone, which is just so very far from the truth and reality.”
He went on to blame the media coverage of trans athletes. “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 added.
Back in 2010, the LPGA voted to eliminate its requirement that players be “female at birth” after being sued by a trans person. But that decision may now be under review. Golfweek reported that LPGA commissioner Mollie Marcoux Samaan sent out a memo to players last week stating the tour is finishing a review of its current policy and will implement any changes before the 2025 season.
The Backlash
Riley Gaines and former LPGA Tour golfer Amy Olson were just a few of the athletes to slam the tour for allowing Davidson to compete. Prejean Boller said part of what makes the situation so disappointing is Davidson’s attitude. “He is so arrogant,” she noted. “He is not even sorry, and he is going to continue this.”
As a result, Prejean Boller said viewers must do their part. “Look what we did with Bud Light. Look what we did with Target. We must refuse to watch this circus,” she said. “It really hurts them when it hits the pocketbook… We are the consumers… we must refuse to watch.”
She also implored Davidson’s competitors to take a stand. “All the women who are about to compete against this dude, I challenge you: Take a knee, refuse to compete,” Prejean Boller concluded. “That is when this circus ends.”
You can check out Megyn’s full interview with Prejean Boller by tuning in to episode 872 on YouTube, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you like to listen. And don’t forget that you can catch The Megyn Kelly Show live on SiriusXM’s Triumph (channel 111) weekdays from 12pm to 2pm ET.