Kai Trump opens last at LPGA debut after 13-over round

The Moment

Kai Trump, 18 and a high school senior, made her LPGA debut on a sponsor exemption at The ANNIKA presented by Gainbridge at Pelican in Belleair, Florida. On Thursday’s opening day, she carded a 13-over round and sat at the bottom of a 108-player leaderboard, according to the LPGA’s official scoring.

She reportedly drew a sizable gallery, leaned into her length off the tee, and struggled around the greens — a familiar first-time pro-tour script. By day’s end, the attention eclipsed the result: she was the name on the property, if not the number on the board.

The Take

Here’s the real talk: this was a marketing invite doing exactly what marketing invites do. Sponsor exemptions exist to juice interest — sometimes for rising talents, sometimes for hometown favorites, and sometimes for famous names who pull casual fans to the ropes. Kai is both a developing golfer and a famous granddaughter with a large social following. The LPGA bet on buzz. They got it.

Was the golf up to the glare? Not yet. A 13-over opener at a top-tier LPGA stop means you’re learning on the autobahn. But for a teenager, the day wasn’t a meltdown so much as a reality check. She’s long enough to hang off the tee — the finesse shots and tournament seasoning aren’t there yet. That’s normal. Expecting a trophy run would be like handing a learner’s permit the keys to Daytona.

The culture clash is the story: influencer-era fame meeting the most merit-based corner of sports. Golf doesn’t care about your follower count; the cup is the same size for everyone. If Kai sticks with it, Thursday becomes Chapter One of a long grind — and a very public one. The upside? She just introduced a lot of new eyeballs to women’s golf. The downside? Every hiccup trends.

Receipts

Confirmed

• Kai Trump received a sponsor exemption into The ANNIKA presented by Gainbridge at Pelican, per LPGA field information.
• She shot 13-over in Round 1 and was at the bottom of the leaderboard, per the LPGA’s official scoring.
• She is 18 years old and a high school senior, per tournament and LPGA materials.
• Pre-tournament, Annika Sörenstam noted Kai’s distance was a strength and that touch around the greens would be the test, per event media availability.

Kai Trump made her LPGA debut today. She didn’t qualify but was able to play on a sponsor’s exemption along with 107 other golfers. Haeran Ryu is the first round leader at -6. pic.twitter.com/aVML1Z0N0e

— Ron Filipkowski (@RonFilipkowski) November 13, 2025

Unverified/Reported

• Claims that the exemption was granted primarily for “influencer fame” are editorial interpretations, not stated by the LPGA.
• Online chatter tying Kai’s performance or preparation to Tiger Woods (including “stepdad” rumors) is unconfirmed and should be treated as speculation.
• Specific crowd counts and security details have been described anecdotally; official figures were not provided.

Backstory (For Casual Readers)

Kai Trump is the eldest daughter of Donald Trump Jr. and Vanessa Trump — and the granddaughter of Donald Trump. She’s active on social media and has competed in junior tournaments; this week marks her first start on the LPGA Tour via a sponsor exemption. The tournament is named for Annika Sörenstam, a legend with 72 LPGA wins, who serves as host and ambassador.

What’s Next

Round 2 decides the cut. The needle to thread is simple but unforgiving: tighten approach play and scrambling around Pelican’s slick greens. Expect the broader conversation — about who should get sponsor invites and why — to keep humming, especially if TV and social metrics pop. If Kai returns for future exemptions or pursues college and developmental tours, that’s where genuine progress (or not) will show up.

Sources

• LPGA.com — The ANNIKA presented by Gainbridge at Pelican, Round 1 leaderboard and field notes (Nov. 13–14, 2025)
• LPGA Communications — Pre-tournament media availability with Annika Sörenstam; event host remarks on course and player skill sets (Nov. 12, 2025)
• LPGA/Tournament media — Post-round comments from Kai Trump summarizing nerves, learning curve, and first-LPGA impressions (Nov. 13, 2025)

Question for readers: Do sponsor exemptions for famous-but-developing players help grow the game, or should they be reserved strictly for performance-based picks?