When 18-year-old Kai Trump teed off for her LPGA debut at The ANNIKA tournament at Pelican Golf Club in Belleair, Florida, few could have predicted the journey that would unfold over two whirlwind days. With a famous last name, a sponsor exemption, and a crowd peppered with Secret Service agents and golf fans alike, the granddaughter of President Donald Trump stepped onto the grand stage, feeling the weight of nerves, expectation, and curiosity from all corners of the golf world.
Trump’s first round on Thursday, November 13, 2025, was as challenging as they come. The high school senior, who’s committed to play for the University of Miami next year, struggled with nerves and the pressure of the moment. She carded a 13-over-par 83, including nine bogeys and two double bogeys, which left her sitting in last place among the 108-player field. “I was definitely more nervous than I expected, but I thought I hit a lot of great shots out there,” she told reporters after her round. “I hit a lot of good shots just to the wrong spots.”
Despite the rocky start, Trump’s attitude never wavered. She drew large galleries, many of whom were likely as interested in her lineage as her golf swing. The nerves were palpable, but she kept her composure, even as her score ballooned. “For the first day I was definitely really nervous,” she admitted. “I think the nerves just got to me.”
On Friday, the story took a different turn. With the sun rising over the Pelican Golf Club and a brisk breeze in the air, Trump approached her 8:17 a.m. tee time with a newfound calm. “When I went out there today I felt very calm and peaceful to be honest with you. That’s why I played better,” she explained after her round. The improvement was immediate and noticeable. Trump opened with a near-birdie on the first hole and a gritty par save on the second. On the par-3 third, she rolled in her first LPGA birdie, a moment that brought a smile and a surge of confidence.
Her second round was a rollercoaster: four birdies (on holes 3, 7, 11, and 12), four bogeys, a double bogey, and a triple bogey. The triple, a seven on the par-4 fifth after hitting a tree and blading a shot, could have derailed her round. Instead, Trump and her caddie, Allan Kournikova—a former junior golf prodigy—shared a laugh and moved on. “It is what it is,” Trump said. “We got that out of the way, so let’s just move on. It was pretty easy to move on after that.”
The highlight of her Friday came on the twelfth hole, where she nearly aced an 8-iron from 140 yards. The ball burned the high edge of the cup, missing out on what would have been her maiden hole-in-one—and a two-year lease on a Lamborghini Urus to boot. “I hit like a tight little draw into it, tried not to get too high because of the wind,” she described. “Yeah, it was a great shot.”
Trump’s 5-over 75 in the second round was eight shots better than her nervy first effort. She finished 18-over par for the tournament, missing the projected cut of 1-over by a wide margin and placing last in the field by six shots. Still, her performance was seen as a moral victory by many, considering the pressure, the difficulty of the course, and the expectations that come with her name. Charley Hull, an established LPGA pro who played three groups ahead, offered perspective: “That’s really good, considering this is not just an easy LPGA event, this is probably one of the harder courses that we play on. So, for her to come out, she had to be so nervous. It was her first LPGA event—I remember my first event I was really nervous—and she’s got a lot of pressure on her and a lot of eyes on her.”
Trump’s stats showed promise: she averaged 241 yards off the tee and found 11 of 14 fairways on Friday. Not bad for a player ranked 461 in the American Junior Golf Association rankings, with only three events under her belt this term. Her demeanor and ability to bounce back impressed playing competitors and onlookers alike. Olivia Cowan, who played alongside Trump, noted, “Her demeanor was very good, how she kept it all together.” Cowan also remarked on the unusual security presence, calling it “a little strange,” but acknowledged that Trump handled the spotlight with poise.
Family support was never far away. Trump’s mother, Vanessa, who is currently dating Tiger Woods, was there to greet her daughter off the 18th green. After finishing her round, Trump received a warm hug from tournament host Annika Sorenstam before signing autographs and answering questions for the press. The support extended to her grandfather, President Donald Trump, who offered some simple advice before the tournament: “My grandpa pretty much told me go out there and have fun. Just don’t get nervous. Try my best not to.”
While Trump’s LPGA debut ended short of the weekend, the experience was invaluable. “I did everything I could possibly have done for this tournament, so I think if you prepare right the nerves can—they’re always going to be there, right? They can be a little softened,” she reflected. Her future coach at Miami, Jim Garren, is optimistic about what’s ahead: “I hope she realizes that the physical skills and ball-striking are where they need to be to continue progressing in the game. … She got to witness firsthand how the best in the world do it; no better teaching moment than that.”
At the top of the leaderboard, Linn Grant of Sweden and Grace Kim of Australia shared the second-round lead at 9-under, while world number two Nelly Korda surged with a 63 to sit in a tie for sixth. For Trump, though, this week was about more than scores. It was about proving she belonged, learning from the best, and showing the golf world—and herself—what’s possible with determination and resilience. As she left Pelican Golf Club, the sense was clear: for Kai Trump, this is just the beginning.
