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Kai Trump Set for LPGA Debut at The ANNIKA After Pelican Sponsor Exemption

Organizers defend the Pelican club’s sponsor pick as a play to reach younger fans through her outsized social‑media following.

Overview

  • The 18-year-old high school senior will tee it up Nov. 13–16 at Pelican Golf Club in Belleair, Florida, after being invited by the host club as one of three sponsor exemptions.
  • The other amateur invites went to Wake Forest’s Anne-Sterre den Dunnen via the event’s collegiate exemption and Northwestern All-American Lauryn Nguyen via Gainbridge.
  • LPGA executive Ricki Lasky and tournament host Annika Sorenstam publicly backed the decision, citing the potential to introduce the tour to new, younger audiences.
  • Trump’s junior résumé is limited, with a Rolex AJGA ranking of 461, an 83.6 scoring average in three AJGA starts this year, no USGA appearances, and a last-place finish at the Junior Invitational at Sage Valley.
  • Her commercial profile is a key draw, with roughly 8–9 million followers across platforms; she is expected to meet the media Tuesday, play the pro-am Wednesday, and start Thursday, with Allan Kournikova reported as her caddie and no public plans for the president to attend.