This is still a shitty article though using all the usual nonsense phrases such as "against
other women", "living as a woman" "trans female" when the correct term would be trans male because Alison is male.
The Open is, after all, one of the most prestigious and traditional competitions in men's golf, with a history stretching back to the Victorian era. Yet Alison, as her name suggests, is very much not a man.
Though born and raised a boy, she has chosen to live as a woman for more than a decade. And on that sunny day in late June, she made a little bit of history: becoming the first ever trans female to compete on the men's golf circuit.
There really isn't anything remarkable about a male person playing golf on the male circuit despite what the Daily Mail are trying to spin here.
If you read further on in the article it strikes me that Alison's main reasons for not competing in the women's competition is that despite 'transitioning' a decade ago they have not embarked on any medical transition so cannot meet the rule requirements to compete. So Alison's transition up to this point is clothing, make up and accessories.
It also seems that Alison thinks they have a good chance of succeeding in the men's competition, which stands to reason if Alison is a good golfer and the transition is just clothing and pronouns. Men's golf I expect is more lucrative.
Alison, who has been living as a woman since July 5, 2010 — she calls this her 'birthday' — is yet to take either of the stipulated medical steps, so has not yet experienced the changes wrought by hormone therapy.
But when she does, she has agreed to take part in a scientific study that will measure the effect on both her physical performance and her golf game.
It is being carried out by a team at Loughborough University with Joanna Harper, who is perhaps the world's leading academic expert on the science of trans sports and has advised the IOC.
By following the performances of Alison and several other athletes as they undergo transition, she hopes to be able to produce reliable data about the benefits they may — or may not — enjoy in various female sports.
This will, she hopes, allow governing bodies to find ways to allow trans athletes to compete without sparking allegations of unfairness.
Based on the above section it seems that Alison doesn't really have many moral qualms about taking a space in women's sport and they more than likely intend to do it at some point.
Alison can't do it at the moment due to the rules about lowering T and wants Harper to give them the go ahead because they don't want to be called a cheat. Which is missing the point that a male person taking a space from a female person is always a cheat no matter how many people you've persuaded to bend the rules for you.
In short I wouldn't be quick to praise this article or Alison because nothing I've read here makes me think that Alison cares about women in sport because as soon as Alison can get the go ahead to take a woman's place (but not be called a cheat like Hubbard because reasons) Alison will do.