Mianne Bagger

Who is Mianne Bagger?

Mianne Bagger is a touring professional golfer from Denmark. 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 female competitors. Bagger answered by saying that many people aren't aware of physiological aspects of gender variant conditions and the issues related to transition. But since the Australian Women's Golf Association had no ban against trans women, 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. 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". Her comment reflects the perspective of most in the transgender communities 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.