Kai Trump, granddaughter of President Donald Trump, sits last in LPGA Tour debut

Kai Trump says her first taste of LPGA Tour competition was “amazing” despite carding a 13-over-par 83 that left her in last place after the first round of The Annika tournament in Florida.

The 18-year-old granddaughter of President Donald Trump finished her first official LPGA Tour round with nine bogeys, two double bogeys and no birdies.

Trump, who was handed a sponsor invitation to the event, is last in the 108-player field, four shots behind her closest competitor.

“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.

“Obviously being, you know, my first LPGA event, now I kind of know how it goes.”

Starting on the back nine, Trump bogeyed her first four holes before carding her first par on the par-5 14th hole.

She added two more bogeys before a par on the daunting 18th hole put her at 6-over 41 at the turn.

“I felt like a little out of order in the beginning but I kind of got it going afterwards,” Trump said.

“I learned a lot. It was amazing. I had a great time out there.

“Didn’t play the way I wanted obviously, but for my first event ever, I think I played pretty good.”

Some have been critical that Trump, a high school senior with modest results in junior competitions, received a sponsor invite into the event.

She took part in Wednesday’s pro-am, but acknowledged that Thursday was by far the biggest golf stage she had been on.

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The youngest player in the field, Trump displayed solid distance while averaging 242 yards (221.3 metres) off the tee. However, she hit only 7 of 18 greens in regulation and needed 36 putts to get around the Pelican Golf Club.

“It was pretty cool because I know I hit it far, but kind of playing with the best players in the world and being literally right there or even out-driving on some of the holes, it felt pretty good,” she said.

“Felt like my game is in a good spot, and especially only being a senior in high school. It was cool to see that.”

Trump, who has committed to play for the University of Miami next year, will begin her second round at 8:17am ET on Friday (12:36am AEDT on Saturday).

Reuters