Aussie trans golfer gets death threats after big win

An transgender Aussie golfer has copped a barrage of abuse and death threats after winning a major women’s tournament this weekend.

An transgender Aussie golfer has copped a barrage of abuse and death threats after winning a major women’s tournament this weekend.

Professional golfer Breanna Gill won the Australian Women’s Classic trophy at NSW’s Bonville course on Sunday after a thrilling playoff, but her moment of celebration was tarnished by internet trolls.

Gill, who has played professionally across women’s tournaments for eight years, was sprayed with champagne by her competitors after her winning putt, before the festivities turned sour.

A tweet was posted by the tour announcing the 42-year-old’s win, and Gill found herself at the centre of a social media firestorm.

Breanna Gill’s win was marred by internet trolls. Picture: WPGA

The since-deleted tweet from the WPGA Tour of Australasia transformed into a lengthy thread of vicious replies, including some death threats, while yet more attacks were sent to Gill’s personal social media accounts.

The tweet did not mention that Gill was transgender but various accounts pointed it out in fury. US pro golfer Hailey Ostrom, who has been outspoken in her opposition to transgender athletes, slammed Gill in a response.

The WPGA’s tweet reached more than seven million people in one day and received thousands of responses before it was taken down and the account set to private. Gill, too, has deactivated her social media profiles.

WPGA Tour of Australasia chief Karen Lunn said the organisation and its members were “worried about (Gill’s) welfare.”

“It’s obviously a very tough time,” she told Nine newspapers.

“It’s the biggest win of her life. It’s really sad that she can’t celebrate that win.”

Ms Lunn elaborated in an interview with 7 News, saying Gill had worked hard on her technique.

“We’re disappointed with the reaction of many in the public and sad that rather than celebrate her win, she has had to be subject to some really nasty comments,” she said.

“A lot of players work very hard in the gym to get their distance longer and become more powerful, and Bree is probably someone who has done that.

“Certainly there is no evidence in women’s golf that transgender athletes have any advantage at all.”

Ms Lunn said she, too, had received death threats as a result of the win, as had other governing members of the WPGA.

Gill has played professionally across women’s tournaments for eight years. Sunday’s win was her first in a major comp. Picture: Geoff King

Debate surrounding transgender athletes competing in women’s sports has exploded in recent years and frequently becomes heated.

Last month, World Athletics barred all transgender athletes from competing in women’s track and field events regardless of their testosterone levels. In December, the International Olympic Committee tightened its policy on trans athletes to preserve “fairness”, allowing sporting bodies to determine the eligibility criteria for their individual sports.

The WPGA has welcomed transgender players since 2004, a policy adopted by all seven of the major international women’s golf tours.

The comp requires trans athletes to have undergone gender reassignment surgery, undertaken hormonal therapy for at least a year and provided legal documents recognising their new gender. The WPGA confirmed Gill had met all of those requirements.

“I had always had a good feeling that I might have an opportunity to win this golf tournament one day,” Gill said at the time of Sunday’s win, which was her first in a major tournament.

“For it to actually happen is just incredible. I can’t actually believe it.”