Kai Trump made her debut on the LPGA Tour on Thursday, ending 19 pictures off the tempo after a gap spherical of 83 on the Annika match in Florida.
Kai Trump had a day to neglect on the Annika match in Florida (Picture: Douglas P. DeFelice, Getty Photos)
U.S. President Donald Trump’s granddaughter, Kai Trump, had a difficult begin to her LPGA (Women Skilled Golf Affiliation) debut on Thursday. The 18-year-old novice recorded a 13-over-par opening spherical on the Annika match in Florida, leaving her trailing on the backside of the leaderboard after the primary day.
Ranked 461st within the American Junior Golf Affiliation rankings and taking part in solely her fourth occasion of the yr, Trump completed 4 strokes behind the next-closest participant. She was a staggering 19 pictures adrift of chief Ryu Hae-ran, who opened with a six-under 64.
She was granted a sponsor’s exemption to compete within the match, the place she is up in opposition to among the sport’s largest names, together with two-time main winner and reigning champion Nelly Korda.
Trump, who boasts over 9 million followers throughout her social media platforms, not too long ago joined the College of Miami’s Hurricanes for the 2026-27 season.
“I used to be undoubtedly extra nervous than I anticipated, however I believed I hit a whole lot of nice pictures on the market,” Trump admitted after making her LPGA debut. “I hit a whole lot of good pictures simply to the improper spots.
“And clearly being my first LPGA occasion, now I form of know the way it goes. I felt like a bit of out of order at first however I form of received it going afterwards.”
“The entire time I used to be nervous unquestionably,” Trump added. “I believed I did fairly good for simply first time, being the youngest participant within the discipline. I had a good time on the market.”
Regardless of his absence in Florida this week, Donald Trump supplied some recommendation to his granddaughter forward of her skilled golf debut on Thursday.
As reported by The Impartial, Kai said: “He is operating the world proper now, so a bit of busy. “We play lots. We have now a good time on the market, we’re all the time on the identical crew as properly. [He said to] go on the market and have enjoyable. Simply do not get nervous.”
The match boasts a whopping prize fund of £2.45million ($3.25m) and is famend for having one of the crucial aggressive fields outdoors of the majors.
In an announcement final month relating to her participation, Ricki Lasky, chief tour enterprise and operations officer on the LPGA, defended the contentious choice to ask Kai.
He stated: “Sponsor invites are an necessary method to highlight rising expertise and convey new consideration to our tournaments and the LPGA.
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“Kai’s broad following and attain are serving to introduce golf to new audiences, particularly amongst youthful followers. We’re excited to see her take this subsequent step in her journey.”
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