Hailey Davidson, a 30-year-old transgender golfer, won the NXXT Women's Classic in Florida on Jan. 17, putting her one step closer toward qualifying for the Ladies Professional Golf Association (LPGA) tour, the New York Post reported.
"Honestly this one came as a bit of a surprise to me," Davidson wrote on Instagram. "Being 3 shots back with two holes to play I got myself into a playoff after sticking it to 3 feet on the 18th hole.
"... A huge thank you to @nxxtwomensprotour [NXXT Women's Pro Golf Tour] for putting on a great event and @missionresort [Mission Inn Resort] for hosting us!"
NXXT Golf, aimed at "empowering women in golf," serves as a pathway to the LPGA Tour. Davidson's victory adds to her consistent performance in the league, having achieved top finishes in several tournaments and accumulating significant earnings and league points.
Davidson qualified for the tour in 2021 after undergoing hormone replacement therapy and gender reassignment surgery. She claims to have experienced a decrease in "club head speed" due to her transition.
Davidson is continuing her pursuit in the NXXT Tour, with several more events leading up to the Tour Championship in Ocala, Florida.