Transsexual to play in women's pro tourney

Associated Press

Mianne Bagger, who had a sex-change operation in 1995, just wants to play top-level golf. Associated Press

After a year in which seven women competed in men's tournaments, Bagger will make history this week at the Women's Australian Open as the first transsexual to play in a pro golf tournament.

Bagger sees it as an opportunity.

"It's my dream to play top-level golf," she said.

Bagger was born a male in Copenhagen, Denmark, in 1966 and began playing golf as an 8-year-old.

Bagger got down to a 4-handicap but stopped playing golf in 1992 to begin a transformation to a female with hormone therapy. Bagger had the sex-change operation three years later, then resumed playing in 1998.

For those concerned she has a physical advantage over the other women in the field — which includes Karrie Webb, Laura Davies and Rachel Teske — Bagger says they are misinformed.

"People aren't aware of what's involved with transsexualism," said Bagger, who is 5 feet 10 and 150 pounds. "People aren't aware that there are certain physiological changes you go through with hormone replacement therapy. We lose an amount of muscle mass and overall strength as a result."

Another transsexual, Renee Richards, faced some opposition when she played on the women's tennis tour in the 1970s.

Bagger, though, is being welcomed. Teske and Davies were among players who supported her appearance at Concord Golf Club.

"She's a girl now, let her have a go," Davies said. "She's not gaining any advantage from what I understand. She doesn't hit the ball 350 yards. Why not give her a chance?"

This event might be the only chance Bagger gets.

The LPGA Tour, U.S. Golf Association and the Ladies European Tour have policies that players must be female at birth.

The reason for that restriction was Charlotte Wood, a transsexual who was 50 when she finished third in the 1987 U.S. Senior Women's Amateur, and reached the semifinals of the U.S. Women's Mid-Amateur.

The USGA put the "female at birth" clause in its entry forms in 1989. The LPGA Tour added the restriction in 1991.