Caitlyn Jenner DEFENDS transgender golfer Hailey Davidson

Caitlyn Jenner has defended golfer Hailey Davidson and her bid to become the first transgender athlete to compete on the LPGA tour – despite criticizing another transgender sportswoman, swimmer Lia Thomas, and her effort to reach the Olympics.

Jackson’s bid to land a place on the LPGA has come under scrutiny but perhaps surprisingly, Jenner has offered support.

Jenner, who competed as a man in decathlon at two Olympic Games and transitioned fully in 2015, has been critical of Thomas for competing in female swimming events because she went through male puberty.

Caitlyn Jenner has defended golfer Hailey Davidson’s bid to win an LPGA Tour place

Jenner said that Davidson (pictured) is playing by the rules within her sport to compete

But simmer Lia Thomas, who transitioned from a man to a woman during college, has been criticised by Jenner for competing against women in races

It led to FINA, the governing body of swimming, earlier this year barring transgender women athletes from competing in women’s sports if they didn’t transition before the age of12.

But golf is also different than swimming, Jenner says, because of the skills required to succeed.

Speaking on Fox News, Jenner said: ‘I’ve been consistent in how I’ve approached transgender athletes and it depends on the sport. Every sport is different. 

‘Obviously, we saw with Lia Thomas she had gone through male puberty, bigger cardiovascular system, it just wasn’t fair. And fortunately we won that, we won that one.

‘Golf is totally different game. It is a game of touch and feel. It is about your ability around the green, to get the ball out the bunker.

‘The girls on the LPGA tour – I’ve played in some LPGA tour events and these girls are so good it’s a joke. 

‘I was hitting next to Lexi Thompson on one of the pro-am events, she was bombing 30 yards past what I could hit it. Danielle Kang, she just kills me.

‘She’s making the Epson tour, a qualifying tour to get into the LPGA. And so she’s playing by the rules. So honestly, for me, the jury is still out on this one. Let’s just let it play out.’ 

Jenner made comparisons to female golfers that she had personally competed against 

Jenner said each sport deserved different views in how they approach transgender athletes

Earlier this month, Jenner opened up on why she felt aspiring Olympic swimmer Thomas had an unfair advantage.

‘She has a tremendous advantage over the girls, she’s taller, has bigger hands, her cardio vascular system is bigger, she went through male puberty – all of those things and it’s just not fair,’ Jenner said.

‘It makes the trans community look selfish and self-absorbed. Lia Thomas even said if you accept me as a woman, you accept me as woman athlete but no, we do not have to accept that.’