(Reuters) -Kai Trump, the eldest granddaughter of U.S. President Donald Trump, made her LPGA debut on Thursday at Pelican Golf Club in Belleair, Florida, where she struggled en route to posting the day’s highest score.
The 18-year-old amateur, who received a sponsor’s exemption to play The Annika, opened with a 13-over-par 83 that left her in last place at an event chock full of the game’s top talent and by far the biggest tournament of her career.
“I was definitely more nervous than I expected, but I thought I hit a lot of great shots out there. I hit a lot of good shots just to the wrong spots,” said Trump.
“And obviously being my first LPGA event, now I kind of know how it goes. I felt like a little out of order in the beginning but I kind of got it going afterwards.”
Trump, who started on the back nine alongside Japan’s Hinako Shibuno and Germany’s Olivia Cowan, was applauded when she was introduced at the par-four 10th hole and again after she found the fairway with her opening tee shot.
But Trump, who is ranked 461st in the American Junior Golf Association rankings and was considered a longshot to contend this week, went on to bogey her first four holes before a par at the par-five 14th.
Trump went on to mix two bogeys with a pair of pars over her next four holes, including an impressive up-and-down to save par at the 16th, and reached the turn at six-over 41 on the day.
She then dropped a shot right out of the turn followed by two double-bogeys over her next four holes before adding two more bogeys over her final three holes.
“The whole time I was nervous without a doubt,” said Trump. “I thought I did pretty good for just first time, being the youngest player in the field. I had a great time out there.”
Trump, who has established a substantial presence in Florida’s top junior competitions, was competing a day after the University of Miami announced that she had committed to play golf with the Hurricanes for the 2026-27 season.
South Korea’s Ryu Hae-ran emerged as the first-round leader of The Annika, which is hosted by LPGA great Annika Sorenstam, after an opening six-under-par 64 that left her one shot clear of Australian Grace Kim.
American Jennifer Kupcho was two shots off the pace while world number six Charley Hull was among a pack of four golfers a further shot adrift.
(Reporting by Frank Pingue in Toronto, editing by Pritha Sarkar)
Comments