Kai Trump, the eldest granddaughter of US President Donald Trump, made her LPGA debut on Thursday at Pelican Golf Club in Belleair, Florida. The 18-year-old amateur, playing on a sponsorship exemption at The Annika, opened with a 13-over-par 83 to finish last in a field full of top global talent.
“I was definitely more nervous than I expected,” Kai Trump admitted after her round. “I hit a lot of good shots just in the wrong spots.
Fight early, settle late
Kai Trump, who started on the back nine alongside Japan’s Hinako Shibuno and Germany’s Olivia Cowan, received warm applause on the 10th tee and again when she found the fairway with her opening drive.
But nerves quickly showed. She bogeyed the first four holes and was tied at par on the par 14th.
In the next stretch, she mixed in two more bogeys with a pair of pars, including a solid up-and-down on 16 to turn in six-over 41.
“I was definitely nervous the whole time,” she said. “But then I kind of got it going.
Challenging FLPGA debut
Kai Trump’s struggles continued off the corner. She bogeyed a shot at No. 1, then carded two double-bogeys on four holes, followed by two more bogeys to get home.
Still, she maintained a positive outlook: “I thought I did pretty well for the first time because I’m the youngest player in the field. I had a great time there.”
Rising amateur
Despite a rocky debut, Kai Trump remains a rising name on the Florida junior golf circuit. Ranked 461st by the U.S. Junior Golf Association, she was long considered a long player this week.
Her LPGA appearance came just one day after the University of Miami announced her commitment to play for the Hurricanes in the 2026-27 season.
Ryu Hae-ran sets the early pace
While Kai Trump was given a hard lesson, South Korea’s Ryu Hae-ran rose to the top with a 6-under 64, one ahead of Australia’s Grace Kim.
American Jennifer Kupcho was two shots behind, while world number six Charley Hull led the pack sitting three shots off Ryu’s lead.
