The New Women's Long Drive Champion? Yup, Used to Be a Man

by Ryan Ballengee on Dec 23, 2008 10:51 AM EST

Do you remember the scene in Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery when Austin meets the Chief's mum? And he thinks that she is a man? And tries to pull a wig off of her head?

Well, don't try to do that to the RE/MAX women's long drive champion. She is a woman. But she also used to be a man.

Jim Achenbach reports for Golfweek:

[F]rom the World Long Drive Championship, it is odd but true that the new women’s world champion is a 55-year-old bartender who used to be a man.

Although golf is a sport largely without controversy, the reign of long-drive queen Lana Lawless, who lives in Palm Springs, Calif., is expected to be neither tranquil nor uneventful.

For starters, there is her startling honesty. “This is who I am. This is my life,” she said firmly. “That other person, that 245-pound SWAT cop I used to be, he’s gone. He’s not coming back.”

Former women’s world champion Lee Brandon:

“In 2005, the USGA approved transgender involvement in competition, so I don’t see how we can dispute this. However, if a woman has the knees, hands and feet of a man, she has genetic real estate that is more gifted.”

I don't have any real specific view on this one. It is an issue that comes up so rarely that I can't even form a real opinion on it. The USGA ok'd transgender competitors. I remember that ruling. There was a lot of talk surrounding Mianne Bagger, who participated on the LET and in a landmark way in the 2004 Women's Aussie Open. I don't think the LPGA ever lifted its rule on the subject because Ty Votaw claimed in 2005 that women born as men would have an unfair advantage over women born as women.

Thoughts?

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Mianne Bagger

She finished 149th on the LET in driving distance this year. Hardly seems like she had an unfair advantage, does it? Within the last year I saw an interview with Renee Richards. For whatever reason, she seems a bitter old woman. I’d take her opinion on anything with a grain of salt. According to the winner of the competition:

"I beat her because of the wind," conceded Lawless, whose longest drive into a 40-mph headwind traveled 254 yards – 4 yards longer than Meti’s best. "She hits it higher than I do, and that wind just knocked her ball out of the sky. If it had been downwind, she would have hit it 500 yards (Meti bombed a 349-yard drive in a qualifying round)."

No advantage based upon personal history here, just conditions.

I don’t have a specific view either, but evidence rather than discomfort with the subject seems to indicate there’s no reason not to let transgendered people compete.

Truth has a well-known liberal bias.

by dianemarie on Dec 23, 2008 1:11 PM EST reply actions

I'm inclined to agree

It doesn’t seem like Lawless has a particular advantage. Then again, Lawless is 54. I think the Bagger example serves as a better one. Besides, Brittany Lincicome is proof positive that distance doesn’t necessarily equal success on the LPGA Tour.

by Ryan Ballengee on Dec 23, 2008 1:19 PM EST up reply actions

Bagger's problem...

…wasn’t the artificial estrogen that changed his body chemistry and make up – he just wasn’t very good before he switched teams and thought playing pro golf was a good idea.

that estrogen does all sorts of things to musculature and overall strength.

"this ball will fit in that fairway"

by courtgolf on Dec 23, 2008 2:41 PM EST up reply actions

hard to know

My first instinct was to think that it doesn’t really seem fair – the debate that men are just naturally built to hit it farther and be stronger makes me feel like it wouldn’t be an even playing field. But after reading the article, and understanding a little more of what the transgender process is (but not really understanding it), it seems like the potential to be stronger is more limited. And if it helps Lawless feel more accepted as a person and a woman, maybe it’s a good thing.

by red tees on Dec 23, 2008 2:05 PM EST reply actions

statistics

Golf, like any other sport, has numbers geeks analyzing every facet of the game. If transgendered women, as a class, dominated in any area other than putting, I’d say they have an advantage. With a sample size of one, Mianne Bagger, who dominates in no area, maybe we just let any who can compete at that level to have the opportunity until there’s more data?

I said I didn’t have a specific view. Reading what RB and red tees have written, I guess I’ve developed one.

Truth has a well-known liberal bias.

by dianemarie on Dec 23, 2008 2:32 PM EST reply actions

There's such a small sample

And it’s not like there’s a wave of transgendered golfers that are waiting in line to get onto the LPGA Tour. So, with a sample size of 2 – we have one transgendered golfer that doesn’t hit very far compared to other women, and one that just won a long drive title. Who knows.

by Ryan Ballengee on Dec 23, 2008 2:35 PM EST up reply actions

do we know..

how the runner up felt about it?

by red tees on Dec 23, 2008 3:08 PM EST up reply actions

Oooooo....

…good question. I’m guessing that SHE said nothing since there were no protests about HIS participation before the contest started.

254 into a “40 mph wind” – I’m calling crap on that one. Male professionals don’t hit 254 yard drives INTO 40 mph winds.

"this ball will fit in that fairway"

by courtgolf on Dec 23, 2008 3:45 PM EST up reply actions

very true...

…don’t forget Rene Richards – the tennis player back in the late 70’s – he got his sex change done in his 40’s, past his physical prime, but was still strong enough to play with the younger women. (yes – I call Bagger and Richards and Lawless “he” – it doesn’t matter how much estrogen you put in or what you cut off – your genetics still say they are male)

"this ball will fit in that fairway"

by courtgolf on Dec 23, 2008 2:46 PM EST up reply actions

when did this happen????

The only MSM citation I can find is Achenbach’s Golf Week article dated December 22, 2008. The competition actually took place OCTOBER 22, 2008. If this is such a big deal, why wasn’t it an issue two months ago?

Truth has a well-known liberal bias.

by dianemarie on Dec 23, 2008 3:59 PM EST reply actions

I'm not really sure about that

I’d have to look into it more really to know. Maybe the MSM missed this one. I, for one, don’t normally follow long drive circuits.

by Ryan Ballengee on Dec 23, 2008 4:11 PM EST up reply actions

I watched the telecast

Of it today on ESPN. It did happen in October, but was airing this week – hence the coverage. ESPN probably sent out some memos. Interestingly enough, no one on the telecast mentioned Lawless as being transgendered.

by Ryan Ballengee on Dec 24, 2008 4:46 PM EST up reply actions

I recorded it and fast-forwarded it to see if they showed the women’s competition. I didn’t see it so I took it all the way to delete. Did they really even mention anything during the broadcast?

Truth has a well-known liberal bias.

by dianemarie on Dec 24, 2008 6:38 PM EST up reply actions