Post by : Maya Rahman

Kai Trump, the granddaughter of US President Donald Trump and daughter of Donald Trump Jr, made her debut in the LPGA at The Annika tournament. This 18-year-old amateur entered on a sponsor’s exemption, a decision that stirred significant discussion. Her first round was a struggle, with a final score of 13-over-par 83, placing her at the bottom of the leaderboard, yet it became one of the day’s standout narratives, accompanied by large crowds and heavy media coverage.

Trump began her round on the back nine, partnered with well-known player Hinako Shibuno and Germany’s Olivia Cowan. Upon stepping to the tee, she was greeted with warm applause, and her initial drive through the fairway thrilled the spectators. However, nerves quickly overwhelmed her, resulting in bogeys on her first four holes, revealing issues with her short game and approach shots. She noted afterward that she felt even more anxious than at the Republican National Convention.

Despite the rocky start, she stabilized herself with a par at the par-5 14th hole. From there, she managed a mix of pars and bogeys, including a notable up-and-down at the par-3 16th that drew enthusiastic cheers from the crowd. She finished the first nine holes with a score of 41. Although it wasn’t her best performance, these moments reflected her potential and her ability to bounce back after setbacks.

Throughout the round, her mother Vanessa and her future college golf coach Jim Garren from the University of Miami provided support. Their presence came just a day after she officially committed to play college golf at Miami for the 2026–27 season. Her group garnered what the Golf Channel commentators referred to as the largest gallery of the day. A mix of supporters, critics, and fans followed her, a testament to the buzz surrounding her invitation.

The LPGA’s broadcast concluded shortly after Trump completed her first hole, which surprised many considering the public interest. Nevertheless, crowds diligently followed her every shot. Fans lined the fairways, making her outing feel like a major event even as she found it hard to maintain form.

Unfortunately, Trump struggled further on the back nine, dropping another shot right after the turn and facing two double-bogeys. A particularly challenging moment came on the par-4 eighth hole when she topped an iron shot, prompting an audible gasp from the crowd. Yet, she quickly redeemed herself with a remarkable shot, landing just four feet from the hole. Despite this, she ended her round with two more bogeys, finishing with a score of 83, the highest for the day.

Post-round, Trump expressed feeling nervous throughout but believed she managed well for her first foray at a professional level. She reminded reporters that she was the youngest competitor in the field and felt the experience helped her “understand how it goes,” emphasizing plans to improve her short game and putting.

Her participation stirred mixed reactions within the golf community. While some fans and analysts viewed her involvement as invigorating—especially alongside WNBA star Caitlin Clark in the pro-am—others questioned the appropriateness of her spot given her rank of No. 461 in the American Junior Golf Association during a critical end-of-season event. Yet, tournament host Annika Sorenstam defended the choice, urging people to “give this girl a chance.”

Dan Doyle Jr, the club owner, mentioned that Trump's presence significantly boosted interest, particularly on social media, where she boasts over nine million followers. Trump also revealed she received advice from her grandfather, who encouraged her to stay calm, as well as from Tiger Woods, who told her to “go with the flow.”

While Trump faced challenges, the professional field produced impressive play. South Korea’s Ryu Hae-ran led with an outstanding six-under-par 64, followed closely by Grace Kim of Australia and Jennifer Kupcho, showcasing the evident skill gap between elite professionals and emerging amateur players.

#Sports News