‘I felt I wasn’t alone’ – Golf’s first openly gay pro says sport is ready to accept

Tadd Fujikawa, golf’s first openly gay player, has urged others to follow his example, saying that coming out has changed both his life and his game.
The Hawaii-born star, who was the youngest golfer to ever qualify for the US Open in 2007 when he was 15, made the decision to ‘come out’ exactly a year ago today.
Now, 12 months on, he has given an exclusive interview to bunkered.co.uk, in which he opens up in wonderful honesty – and urges others in sports to follow his lead for the sake of their own happiness.
“I feel totally different,” he says. “I mean, I’m still doing the same things in terms of playing golf but, as a person, I’ve changed a lot.
“I’m kind of re-learning how to live, I guess. It’s as though everything is new. But I’m happy.”
“I drew a lot of confidence and inspiration from seeing other people [coming out]. It gave me a lot of hope and kind of made me feel as though as I wasn’t alone.
“So, I wanted to help others in a similar situation, who maybe wanted to come out but who didn’t feel able to or who lived in fear of the world rejecting them because of who they are.
“I wanted to show them that if I could be comfortable enough to come out not just as an athlete but also as somebody who plays quite a reserved, old-fashioned sport, that there was nothing for them to fear. I guess it was my way of giving something back.”
“I was still in the closet and, you know, when you put everything together, it really affected me.
I’m slowly coming to terms with it. Even now, it’s an on-going process and something I have to constantly be aware of.”
Sport often struggles with homophobia, prompting many sportsmen to shroud themselves in secrecy out of fear of hate.
Fujikawa, though, has urged others to be brave after being met with nothing but support.
“I genuinely didn’t think it would be that big a deal. I thought it would be mainly friends and family who would respond to it.
“I’m grateful for it and thankful to have the opportunity to use my platform to help others.”
GOLF365 is now on Instagram, don’t forget to check us our for more golf news, reviews and satire – CLICK RIGHT HERE! You can follow us on Twitter too.
Latest
-
News
Golfers warned of further sanctions if they continue to play in LIV breakaway
The DP World Tour has issued fines of £100,000 and tournament bans to its members who played in the inaugural LIV Golf event earlier this month
-
European Tour
DP World Tour hits members who played inaugural LIV series with £100,000 fines
They have also been banned from several forthcoming tournaments including the Scottish Open.
-
News
Rory McIlroy not impressed as Brooks Koepka becomes latest big name to join LIV
The world number two labelled the players who have joined the new series as “duplicitous” for the way they have handled their breakaway.
-
The Open
R&A confirms LIV Golf Series players will be allowed to compete at Open
The 150th Open Championship will get underway at St Andrews in three weeks’ time.
-
US Open
Matt Fitzpatrick turns to other major winners for advice on dealing with fame
Fitzpatrick won the US Open on Sunday.
-
News
Brooks Koepka set to join Saudi-backed LIV Golf Invitational Series
Koepka’s brother Chase played in the opening event at Centurion Club earlier this month.
-
US Open
Gary Player urges Matt Fitzpatrick to avoid ‘poison’ of modern-day coaching
Player tells US Open champion Fitzpatrick to learn from mistakes of recent major winners, saying: “The teaching today is the worst it has ever been.”
-
US Open
Matt Fitzpatrick’s caddie Billy Foster ready for ‘long party’ after US Open win
Foster won his first major after a 40-year career which includes spells working for the likes of Seve Ballesteros, Lee Westwood and Darren Clarke.
-
US Open
Matt Fitzpatrick backed to become a dominant force after winning first major
The Englishman claimed his first major title at Brookline.
-
US Open
Matt Fitzpatrick: A Blade with plenty of support who can really cut it
The Sheffield golfer landed his first major – and first professional win in America – at Brookline on Sunday.