The president’s granddaughter isn’t playing her best golf at Pelican Golf Club in her first LPGA Tour event, but one professional said the way to succeed at the course isn’t complicated
16:20 ET, 13 Nov 2025Updated 16:21 ET, 13 Nov 2025
Kai Trump is not having her best day in her LPGA Tour debut at The Annika(Image: Julio Aguilar/Getty Images)
Kai Trump is fighting to get around Pelican Golf Club in the first round of her LPGA Tour, riding the bogey train early and often, but one veteran golfer said the key to succeeding at the course is simple.
Trump, the 18-year-old granddaughter of the president, is making her first start in an LPGA Tour event as a sponsor invite this week at The Annika in Belleair, Florida.
While Trump is a skilled amateur golfer, she did not get off to a strong start in her opening round on Thursday, scoring bogey or worse on a majority of holes. Though Trump is struggling, LPGA and LET winner Leona Maguire explained the best way to approach Pelican Golf Club, where she has played each year of her LPGA Tour career, carding a 3-under 67 opening round on Thursday.
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“You just have to hit good golf shots,” Maguire said after her round. “I think this is the course I’ve played the most on Tour. I’ve played it every year.
“I think the way some of these greens are you can’t really bail out. Even 18, you just have to stand up and hit a really good golf shot.”
Trump made bogey on each of the first four holes to start her round(Image: Getty Images)
Trump did not hit many good golf shots early at The Annika.
While she was decent off the tee, hitting her first two fairways, she struggled on approaches, including a shot into the tunnel of a grandstand behind the green on the par-3 12th hole.
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“It’s quite generous off the tee, but you really have to pick your spots into the greens and try and stay below the hole if at all possible,” Maguire said.
“The greens aren’t quite as grainy as they have been in past year just because they’re so slick, but it’s a good golf course. I feel like it always brings out the best in everybody at this point in the season.”
While Trump will likely be near the bottom of the leaderboard this week, Maguire had a solid start with her 3-under first round.
The Irish star is looking for her first LPGA Tour victory since June 2023 and will be in the top five entering Friday’s second round.
“I just played really solid, especially on the back nine,” Maguire said. “Gave myself a lot of chances. Gave myself some good chances on the front but kept leaving myself above the pin.
“Greens are so slick so you really have to be very mindful of your speed.
“On the back nine gave myself some shots below the hole and, yeah, it was nice to see a few go in.”
