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Mianne Bagger
Mianne Bagger (born December 25, 1966) is a female golfer from Denmark with a transsexual past. Bagger took up golf at the age of eight. At the age of 14, she was pictured with golf legend Greg Norman during a golf clinic.
Bagger moved to Australia in 1979. In 1995, she had sex reassignment surgery. In 1998, she returned to golf, as an amateur in Australia.
When she started playing amateur tournaments in Australia, she caused a media stir. Many golf fans argued that her being born a male could give her an advantage over other, non-transsexual female competitors. Bagger answered by saying that many people aren't aware of what's involved with sexual reassignment surgery. But since the Australian Women's Golf Association has no ban against Transgendered females, she was welcomed to play there. At Bagger's first tournament as a professional, Laura Davies and Rachel Teske were among players who were happy to allow Mianne to compete.
In 1999, Bagger won her first South-Australian championship, repeating as champion in 2001 and 2002.
She caused media stir in 2003, when she played the Australia Women's Open and attempted to join the Australian Ladies Professional Golf Association (ALPGA). At the tournament she met Ty Votaw, the Commissioner of the LPGA who was later questioned about their policies stating "right now, our rule is that they have to be born women". Mianne notes that "they obviously don't consider that I meet that condition"[1]. (Her comment reflects the perspective of most Transgendered/transsexual persons and their allies, who do not consider biology the sole arbiter of gender). However, Votaw left the possibility open for that rule to change in the future.
The 2004 ruling by the International Olympic Committee regarding transsexual athletes led to a re-examination of rules in many sports. In November 2004, the ALPG voted in favour of changing their constitution to remove the gender clause, thus making Bagger eligible to join the ALPG Tour.
On 9 February 2005, the Ladies Golf Union announced a policy change allowing Bagger to compete in the Women's British Open.
On 21 March 2005, The United States Golf Association announced it has adopted a new policy that allows transsexual athletes to compete in USGA golf championships, including the upcoming U.S. Women's Open.
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