Kai Trump, the 18-year-old granddaughter of U.S. President Donald Trump, made her LPGA debut Thursday at The Annika tournament in Belleair, Florida — a career milestone that proved both thrilling and challenging. Playing on a sponsor’s exemption and facing the strongest field of her life, the teen posted a 13-over-par 83, the highest score of the opening round.
Trump admitted she felt more nervous than expected as she stepped onto the first tee of the Pelican Golf Club, where she was warmly applauded by fans. “I thought I hit a lot of great shots,” she said. “Just to the wrong spots.” She added that the experience helped her understand the rhythm and pressure of a professional LPGA event: “I felt a little out of order in the beginning but I kind of got it going afterwards.”
Starting on the back nine alongside Japan’s Hinako Shibuno and Germany’s Olivia Cowan, Trump bogeyed her first four holes before steadying herself with a par on 14. She mixed two more bogeys with solid par saves, including a notable up-and-down on 16, and made the turn at six-over 41.
The nerves lingered on the front nine, where she opened with another bogey followed by two double-bogeys in her next four holes. She closed her round with two additional bogeys. Even so, Trump said she was proud of handling the moment: “The whole time I was nervous. But I did pretty good for my first time, being the youngest player in the field. I had a great time out there.”
The debut came just one day after the University of Miami announced that Trump had committed to join the Hurricanes golf team for the 2026–27 season. Ranked 461st in the American Junior Golf Association and considered a longshot in the elite LPGA field, she has nonetheless built a strong reputation in Florida’s junior circuit.
At the top of the leaderboard, South Korea’s Ryu Hae-ran opened with a sizzling six-under 64 to take the early lead, one stroke ahead of Australia’s Grace Kim. American Jennifer Kupcho finished two shots back, while world number six Charley Hull was part of a four-player group sitting another shot behind.