R&A "Deeply Disturbed" After Transgender PGA Pro Abuse At The Open
The R&A has responded after PGA Pro Alison Perkins received abuse whilst working in the spectator village
The R&A has responded after PGA Pro Alison Perkins received abuse whilst working in the spectator village
R&A "Deeply Disturbed" After Transgender PGA Pro Abuse At The Open
The R&A says it is "deeply disturbed" and "deplores any kind of discriminatory behaviour" after a transgender PGA pro was forced to leave The Open early.
PGA Pro Alison Perkins, who Golf Monthly recently caught up with, was working at The Open in the Swingzone coaching fans at Royal St George's.
However, she had to leave the tournament early after receiving abuse on-site.
Alison also cancelled an appearance on Sky Sports due to the abuse.
"Alison is a valued member of the PGA's Swingzone team and we are deeply disturbed to have learned of the incident earlier this week," an R&A Spokesperson said.
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"We will be reaching out to Alison to offer our support and make it clear she is most welcome at The Open in the future.
"We strongly believe that golf should be open to all and deplore any kind of discriminatory behaviour. "
Alison recently became the first transgender pro to compete at Open qualifying before working at the tournament.
After leaving The Open, Alison tweeted: "Thinking hard about WHY and life, Humans can be so cruel :("
"I will hopefully come back stronger one day. It's a tough journey I am on, trying to take the positives from the week not the negatives," she wrote on social media.
"The sun has set early on my Open, I enjoyed my last day, walking round watching the golf and the PGA swing zone. Sad to leave early but was the right decision for me, reflecting at home."
Elliott Heath is our News Editor and has been with Golf Monthly since early 2016 after graduating with a degree in Sports Journalism. He manages the Golf Monthly news team as well as our large Facebook, Twitter and Instagram pages. He covered the 2022 Masters from Augusta National as well as five Open Championships on-site including the 150th at St Andrews. His first Open was in 2017 at Royal Birkdale, when he walked inside the ropes with Jordan Spieth during the Texan's memorable Claret Jug triumph. He has played 35 of our Top 100 golf courses, with his favourites being both Sunningdales, Woodhall Spa, Western Gailes, Old Head and Turnberry. He has been obsessed with the sport since the age of 8 and currently plays off of a six handicap. His golfing highlights are making albatross on the 9th hole on the Hotchkin Course at Woodhall Spa, shooting an under-par round, playing in the Aramco Team Series on the Ladies European Tour and making his one and only hole-in-one at the age of 15 - a long time ago now!
Elliott is currently playing:
Driver: Titleist TSR4
3 wood: Titleist TSi2
Hybrids: Titleist 816 H1
Irons: Mizuno MP5 5-PW
Wedges: Cleveland RTX ZipCore 50, 54, 58
Putter: Odyssey White Hot OG #5
Ball: Srixon Z Star XV
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