Kai Trump plays a shot from the 16th tee at Pelican Golf Club. Photo: Julio Aguilar
- Kai Trump, granddaughter of US President Donald Trump, trailed the rest of the field by four shots after a 13-over round of 83 in her LPGA Tour debut
- Kai Trump received a sponsors' invite to play in The Annika tournament in Florida, and shot nine bogeys and two double-bogeys in her opening round.
- Trump, 18, is a high school student in Florida, who has committed to playing collegiate golf for the University of Miami next year
Kai Trump says her first taste of LPGA Tour competition was "amazing", despite carding a 13-over-par 83 that left her in last place after the first round of The Annika tournament in Florida.
The 18-year-old granddaughter of President Donald Trump finished her first official LPGA Tour round with nine bogeys, two double bogeys and no birdies.
Trump, who was handed a sponsor invitation to the event, is last in the 108-player field, four shots behind her closest competitor.
"I was definitely more nervous than I expected, but I thought I hit a lot of great shots out there," she said. "I hit a lot of good shots, just to the wrong spots.
"Obviously being, you know, my first LPGA event, now I kind of know how it goes."
Sponsor invited Kai Trump is heading out for her first round at @theANNIKAlpga pic.twitter.com/lOU8LogEqX
— LPGA (@LPGA) November 13, 2025
Starting on the back nine, Trump bogeyed her first four holes, before carding her first par on the par-five 14th hole.
She added two more bogeys, before a par on the daunting 18th hole put her at six-over 41 at the turn.
"I felt like a little out of order in the beginning, but I kind of got it going afterwards," Trump said. "I learned a lot.
"It was amazing. I had a great time out there.
"Didn't play the way I wanted, obviously, but for my first event ever, I think I played pretty good."
Some have been critical that Trump, a high school senior with modest results in junior competitions, received a sponsor invite into the event.
She took part in Wednesday's pro-am, but acknowledged that Thursday was by far the biggest golf stage she had been on.
The youngest player in the field, Trump displayed solid distance, while averaging 242 yards (221.3 metres) off the tee. However, she hit only seven of 18 greens in regulation and needed 36 putts to get around the Pelican Golf Club.
"It was pretty cool, because I know I hit it far, but kind of playing with the best players in the world, and being literally right there or even out-driving on some of the holes, it felt pretty good," she said.
"Felt like my game is in a good spot and especially only being a senior in high school. It was cool to see that."
Trump, who has committed to play for the University of Miami next year, will begin her second round at 8.17am ET on Friday (2.17am Saturday NZT).
- Reuters
