Kai Trump’s Finishing Last After First Round in LPGA Debut Has Golf Fans in Splits

Kai Trump fired a score of 13-over 83 in her first round during her LPGA debut and finished last in the standings at The ANNIKA.

Kai Trump’s Finishing Last After First Round in LPGA Debut Has Golf Fans in Splits

Kai Trump (Image via X/@GOLF_com)

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On Thursday, the 2025 edition of The ANNIKA at the Pelican Golf Course in Belleair, Florida kicked off. Among some big names competing in this event was Kai Trump, the granddaughter of Donald Trump. She finished in last place after the first round, following a score of 83.

The 18-year-old drew several criticisms as she received a special invite to this event. The ANNIKA is the penultimate event of the LPGA schedule. The season will conclude next week with the top 60 golfers featuring in the CME Group Tour Championship.

This week’s competition includes several top names, including former World No.1 Nelly Korda. Trump, who is ranked 461 in the American Junior Golf Association (AJGA) rankings, made her professional debut in this event.

The youngster did not have the best of starts. She would bogey the first hole and then had a double bogey on the second hole. Following two pars, she had another double bogey on the par-4 5th hole. A par-bogey-par-bogey in the next 4 holes saw her finish the front-nine with a 7-over 42 score.

She then made 4 straight bogeys from holes 10 to 14. Another par-bogey-par-bogey-par saw her finish the back nine with a 6-over score 41. She eventually finished the round with a 13-over 83 score and was placed last in the standings following the first round.

Social media reacts to Kai Trump’s first round in LPGA debut

Several eyes of the golfing world were on Kai Trump as the 18-year-old prepared to make her LPGA debut. The youngster struggled a bit in her first taste of professional golf on the tour.

Kai Trump
Kai Trump (Image via Los Angeles Times)

Fans on social media were left in splits. While some trolled her and questioned her invite, some lauded her. Several of them praised her efforts against the big names of golf and defended her.

Check out some of the fan reactions from X regarding Kai Trump’s debut below:

The ANNIKA features a cut line. With a projected cut line of 1-over par, the 18-year-old will need a massive turnaround in Friday’s round to keep her chances of making the cut alive.

Despite a last place finish, Kai Trump felt “pretty good” about her performance

Making a professional debut against some of the best in the game is always difficult. Carrying a big family name adds more pressure. This is what Kai Trump was feeling before making her LPGA debut at The ANNIKA. Despite a last place finish, the amateur golfer felt “pretty good” about her performance.

Kai Trump
Kai Trump (Image via X/@AwfulAnnouncing)

While speaking with the reporters after the round, Trump expressed that she was nervous and hit some good shots to the wrong spots.

I was definitely more nervous than I expected, but I thought I hit a lot of great shots out there. I hit a lot of good shots just to the wrong spots… I felt like a little out of order in the beginning but I kind of got it going afterwards... I had a great time out there. Yeah, didn’t play the way I wanted obviously, but for my first event ever I think I played pretty good.

Kai Trump told the reporters

The young golfer, who has made waves over social media and has over 8 million followers, revealed receiving advice from Donald Trump and Tiger Woods before the tournament. Both of them expressed her to enjoy herself out there and have some fun. Meanwhile, 10-time major champion Annika Sorenstam backed the decision to give her a sponsor’s invite and urged the others to give her a chance.

Speaking of The ANNIKA, South Korean international Haeran Ryu leads the event with a score of 6-under 64 in the first round. She fired 7 birdies and 1 bogey to take the 18-hole lead on Thursday.

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