Lead: Eighteen-year-old amateur Kai Trump missed the cut at the Annika Tournament in Florida after carding a five-over 75 in the second round, leaving her at 18 over par overall. The granddaughter of U.S. President Donald Trump played as a sponsor exemption at Pelican Golf Club and significantly improved on the 83 she posted on Thursday. She attracted large galleries across both days and showed signs of strong ball-striking despite finishing last among the 108-player field after 36 holes. Tournament co-leaders at the halfway mark were Linn Grant and Grace Kim at nine under par.
Key takeaways
- Kai Trump shot 83 in round one and a 75 in round two, finishing 18 over par and missing the 36-hole cut.
- Trump, an 18-year-old amateur, competed on a sponsor exemption and is committed to play for the University of Miami next year.
- She averaged 241 yards off the tee and hit 11 of 14 fairways across two rounds, according to tournament statistics.
- Linn Grant (Sweden) and Grace Kim (Australia) led after two rounds at nine under par; Hyo Joo Ryu and Jennifer Kupcho were at eight under.
- World number two Nelly Korda carded a seven-under 63 in round two and sat in a tie for sixth at six under par.
- The field comprised 108 players; Trump was last on the leaderboard at the close of the second round.
- Trump has played three events this season and holds the number 461 position in the American Junior Golf Association (AJGA) rankings.
Background
The Annika Tournament is part of the LPGA schedule and this edition was staged at Pelican Golf Club in Florida. The event attracted top-ranked professionals and a small number of amateurs granted sponsor exemptions; those exemptions allow promising players or local favorites to compete without full tour status. High-profile family connections and media attention often follow exemptions, raising both public interest and scrutiny.
Kai Trump entered the week as an 18-year-old amateur with a limited spring schedule, having played three events this term and committed to the University of Miami for collegiate golf next year. Her appearance brought unusually large galleries for a sponsor-exempt amateur, increasing pressure but also spotlighting her length off the tee and ball-striking metrics. Historically, a strong amateur showing at a major tour stop can accelerate sponsorship and collegiate recruiting conversations.
Main event
Trump struggled on Thursday with an opening 83 but responded with a markedly better second round of 75. Friday’s round included birdies at the third, seventh, 11th and 12th holes and a near hole-in-one when an eight-iron from about 140 yards nearly found the cup. She also managed par on the difficult 18th hole for the second consecutive day.
Not every moment was positive: Trump carded a triple-bogey seven on the par-four fifth, a turning point she described as behind her by the end of the round. Despite that blemish, she showed length from the tee and direction control, finding 11 of 14 fairways and averaging 241 yards off the tee — numbers that contributed to on-course optimism from some peers.
On the leaderboard, Linn Grant and Grace Kim shared the 36-hole lead at nine under, while Hyo Joo Ryu and Jennifer Kupcho sat two strokes back at eight under. Gaby Lopez stood at seven under. Among notable names, Nelly Korda joined a group at six under after firing a seven-under 63 in round two; Charley Hull was at five under overall.
Analysis & implications
Kai Trump’s week underscores the dual nature of sponsor exemptions: they offer exposure and experience but also place young players under intense public scrutiny. For an 18-year-old amateur with limited tournament play this season, the encouraging statistics (distance and fairways hit) suggest a game foundation that could translate with more competition and experience. The raw numbers will matter more to collegiate coaches and development coaches than the final position on the leaderboard.
From a media and tour perspective, high-profile family ties will keep attention on Trump, intensifying debate about access and opportunity in professional golf. However, the LPGA routinely extends exemptions to a mix of local prospects, rising amateurs and players who can help draw fans; this week falls within that practice. The key question is whether Trump’s underlying performance metrics — not headline placement — will secure more starts or sponsorship interest.
On the competition front, early scoring indicates Pelican Golf Club played difficult for much of the field while still allowing low rounds; the presence of a 63 from Nelly Korda shows scoring is possible but not uniform. For contenders, consistency across rounds will determine the eventual winner; for amateurs like Trump, the focus will be on development and translating strengths into fewer big numbers over 18 holes.
Comparison & data
| Player | Country | 2-round score (to par) | Notable |
|---|---|---|---|
| Linn Grant | SWE | -9 | Co-leader after 36 holes |
| Grace Kim | AUS | -9 | Co-leader after 36 holes |
| Hyo Joo Ryu | KOR | -8 | Two strokes off lead |
| Jennifer Kupcho | USA | -8 | Tied for third |
| Nelly Korda | USA | -6 | R2: 63 (seven-under) |
| Kai Trump | USA | +18 | R1: 83, R2: 75; missed cut |
The table highlights the gap between the leaders and Trump’s position after two rounds. While Trump’s raw scoring was well behind the leaders, her distance and fairway statistics placed her among the longer hitters in the field, a useful baseline for future development.
Reactions & quotes
Trump reflected on nerves and improvement after her second round, framing the week as learning experience for a young amateur competing in front of large galleries.
“For the first day I was definitely really nervous… When I went out there today I felt very calm and peaceful… That’s why I played better.”
Kai Trump
Her candid reaction was followed by a practical attitude toward mistakes, noting the triple-bogey was something to move past rather than dwell on.
“Things are going to happen. Once it happens you can’t go back in time and fix it… The best thing I could do is move on.”
Kai Trump
Peer reaction came from England’s Charley Hull, who commented on Trump’s ball-striking relative to course difficulty while assessing her potential.
“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.”
Charley Hull
Unconfirmed
- Whether Trump will receive additional LPGA sponsor exemptions later this season or next year is not publicly confirmed.
- Exact motives and selection criteria used by the event host in granting this specific exemption have not been released.
- Any long-term professional plans beyond her commitment to the University of Miami have not been announced.
Bottom line
Kai Trump’s debut at the LPGA-level Annika Tournament produced a mix of encouraging metrics and raw scoring that left her well outside the cut line. Her second-round 75 showed clear improvement from a nervy opening 83, and her distance and fairway accuracy give coaches and sponsors measurable reasons to watch her progress. As an 18-year-old amateur committed to collegiate golf, the immediate takeaway is developmental: convert the good metrics into more consistent scores across 18 holes.
For the tournament itself, Linn Grant and Grace Kim lead at nine under with strong weekend prospects, while players like Nelly Korda demonstrated that low rounds remain possible. For Trump, the week will likely be framed internally and by her coaches as valuable competitive experience rather than a final assessment of future potential.