Driving Miss Daly?

There’s something different about this year’s RE/MAX World Long Drive Championship women's winner, Lana Lawless, a 55-year-old bartender who can drive a golf ball 245 yards into a 40-mph wind. Lawless is older than the normal contestant, she’s a former police officer, and, oh yeah, she used to be a man.

James Achenbach of GolfWeek has all the weird details. As you might imagine, some are crying foul at Lawless’ presumed advantage, but transgendered women are allowed to compete under USGA guidelines, according to Achenbach.

The image of a policeman-turned-woman does not sit easily with many participants in a sport driven by power, muscle and speed.

“I am shocked more women are not complaining about this,” three-time world champion Sean “The Beast” Fister said. “It’s not an apples-to-apples deal. Men and women are different.”

Added former women’s world champion Lee Brandon: “In 2005, the USGA approved transgender involvement in competition, so I don’t see how we can dispute this. However, if a woman has the knees, hands and feet of a man, she has genetic real estate that is more gifted.”

Lawless had her supporters, including 2007 men’s champ Dobbyn, who observed, “When I watch her, I don’t see any advantage. She hits it like an LDA (Long Drivers of America) woman.”

The rules governing transgender golf competition are precise and numerous. For Lawless, they included mandatory doctor reports, lab results within normal female limits and onsite testing.

Transsexuals are allowed to compete in the Olympic Games, although none has yet qualified, according to this New York Times op-ed.

(Photo: Banggolf.com)