Kai Trump, the 18-year-old granddaughter of U.S. President Donald Trump, made her highly anticipated LPGA debut at the Annika tournament — but her first appearance on the professional stage proved challenging. The young amateur golfer ended the opening round in last place after posting a 13-over-par score in Florida.

Trump, who entered the event on a sponsor’s exemption, struggled early in her round, recording two double bogeys and nine bogeys. Despite the rough start, she showed resilience and maintained a positive outlook about her first experience competing with some of the best players in women’s golf.

Before teeing off, Trump received guidance from 15-time major champion Tiger Woods, adding to the spotlight surrounding her debut.

A Nervous Start for the Young Amateur

Speaking after her round, Kai Trump admitted that the pressure of the moment affected her performance.

“I was definitely more nervous than I expected, but I thought I hit a lot of great shots out there,” she said. “I hit a lot of good shots, just to the wrong spots.”

She added that her nerves carried through much of the round but remained proud of her effort as the youngest competitor in the field.

“The whole time I was nervous without a doubt. I thought I did pretty good for just my first time. I had a great time out there.”

Despite limited competitive play this season — participating in only three events — Trump has gained significant attention due to both her family name and her rising presence on social media, where she has over six million followers. She also recently launched her own apparel and lifestyle brand, further expanding her influence among younger audiences.

Leaderboard Results and Tournament Highlights

After the first day, Kai Trump sat four strokes behind the next-closest competitor and trailed the tournament leader, South Korea’s Haeran Ryu, by 19 shots. Ryu finished the opening round at 6 under par, with strong performances from other top players including Australia’s Grace Kim and America’s Jennifer Kupcho.

Notable first-round scores:

• -6 Haeran Ryu (KOR)
• -5 Grace Kim (AUS)
• -4 Jennifer Kupcho (USA)
• -3 Charley Hull (ENG), Leona Maguire (IRE), Saigo Mone (JPN), and Sei Young Lee (KOR)

American stars Nelly Korda and Lexi Thompson finished at +1, while Trump’s +13 put her at the bottom of the leaderboard.

Growing the Game Among Younger Fans

Despite her difficult first round, the LPGA highlighted the positive impact of Trump’s involvement.

The organization noted that her broad following, large online presence, and visibility help bring golf to younger audiences who may be discovering the sport for the first time.

What’s Next for Kai Trump?

While her debut may not have unfolded as she hoped, Kai Trump expressed gratitude for the opportunity and confidence that she will learn from the experience.

The Annika tournament marks an important step in her development, especially as she competes against seasoned LPGA professionals. With more experience and continued guidance from top players, Trump is expected to refine her skills and potentially return stronger in future events.