Transgender furore rocks Australian golf as Breanna Gill wins Australian Women’s Classic

The WPGA Tour has defended Breanna Gill’s victory in the Australian Womens’ Classic and vowed to work with overseas tours on transgender policies for the integrity of the sport.

Breanna Gill celebrates her win at the Australian Women's Classic. Picture: Australian Golf Media

Women’s PGA Tour chief executive Karen Lunn has defended Breanna Gill’s victory in the Australian Womens’ Classic at the weekend and vowed to work with overseas tours on transgender policies to ensure the quality and integrity of women’s golf.

Gill, a member of the tour for eight years, holed a birdie putt on her final hole to force a playoff at the Australian Women’s Classic, which she went on to win as she secured the biggest victory of her career.

Gill’s moment in the sun didn’t last long as outraged golf fans vented at the result after the Women’s PGA Tour of Australasia posted an image on social media of Gill with the trophy.

It was accompanied by the message: “Showing nerves of steel, Breanna Gill triumphed in a playoff for her first professional win at the #AusWomensClassic!.”

The tweet was viewed more than 7 million times before it was deleted and the comments were turned off. So bitter was the backlash, the WPGA Tour of Australia has now only allowed access to its tweets to confirmed followers.

Breanna Gill celebrates her win in the Australian Women's Classic. Picture: Australian Golf Media

“We congratulate Breanna Gill her on her win at the Australian Women’s Classic,” Lunn said.

“Breanna meets all relevant eligibility criteria in place for transitioned athletes playing on the WPGA Tour, and having played on our tour for more than eight years, is a valued member of the WPGA Tour.

“The WPGA Tour Membership Regulations include a Transitioned Athletes Policy which was formulated in line with the LPGA and Ladies European Tour policies.

“The WPGA Tour will continue to work with the LPGA and Ladies European Tour, along with other women’s tours that form a part of the Rolex Womens Golf World Rankings, on all major policies to ensure consistency in women’s golf ensuring the integrity and quality of women’s golf is always at the forefront.”

Under the WPGA policy, athletes who have undergone sexual reassignment after puberty are required to provide verifiable legal documentation recognising their female gender or transitioned female status.

The WPGA has sole discretion on the athlete’s suitability and acceptance. The WPGA rules further state that If there is a genuine question as to the eligibility of any player seeking entry into a tournament, they have the right to require the person to substantiate their transitioned status in accordance with this policy.

The results of the verification process is kept strictly confidential and is not made public.

Olympic swimming legend Dawn Fraser was at the tournament in her role as a patron of the sport and drove home from Coffs Harbour with Lunn.

She reiterated her belief that transgender athletes should have their own competition.

“All I’ll say is that they should formulate their own competition,” Fraser said.

“And I’ve said that about all sports.”

ABUSE, DEATH THREATS: TRANSGENDER ROW HITS AUSTRALIAN GOLF

Australian golf has been rocked by a transgender furore after Breanna Gill received death threats following her win at the Australian Women’s Classic at the weekend.

Gill holed a birdie putt on her final hole to force a playoff, which she went on to win.

“I always thought in my head if I ever got the opportunity to actually win a golf tournament and the girls happen to come running out on the green I was going to stand there and take it,” Gill said.

“I wasn’t going to run away. If you get yourself in that position, you just take it. It was so special.”

Gill’s moment in the sun didn’t last long as outraged golf fans took to social media to lash out at the result after the Women’s PGA Tour of Australasia posted an image of Gill with the trophy.

It was accompanied by the message: “Showing nerves of steel, Breanna Gill triumphed in a playoff for her first professional win at the #AusWomensClassic!.”

Golfer Breanna Gill caused a transgender storm with her win at the Australian Women's Classic. Picture: Australian Golf Media

The tweet was viewed more than 7 million times before it was deleted and the comments were turned off. So bitter was the backlash, the WPGA Tour of Australia has now only allowed access to its tweets to confirmed followers.

Gill isn’t the first transgender person to win a golf event – Scottish player Hailey Davidson won on the US mini tour in 2021.

“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,” WPGA Tour of Australasia chief executive Karen Lunn told 7 News Coast.

“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.”