What Kai Trump’s opening round 83 at The ANNIKA has already proven about the LPGA Tour

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Kai Trump got off to a really tough start on her LPGA Tour debut at The Annika on Thursday.

The ANNIKA is taking place this week at Pelican Golf Club in Belleair, Florida, and Kai Trump has been the main topic of discussion at the LPGA Tour event.

Kai Trump is a superb golfer in her own right, and plays off a +0.5 handicap. However, her opening round in Florida on Thursday did not go to plan whatsoever.

She posted a 13-over par 83 and ended the day dead last on the leaderboard.

The 18-year-old’s performance gave oxygen to those who were highly critical of the decision to invite her into the event in the first place.

However, another way to look at the situation is that Kai Trump’s invite into The Annika was actually a really good thing for the LPGA Tour, because it raised interest and increased viewing figures at a time when that was very much needed.

Nelly Korda hasn’t won this year while Charley Hull is still struggling to get over the line in the very biggest tournaments.

The LPGA Tour needed a boost, and it’s fair to argue that Trump’s appearance in Florida this week has given them just that.

However, at the same time, President Trump‘s granddaughter’s struggles on day one of The ANNIKA proved one very important thing about the LPGA Tour.

What Kai Trump’s 83 at The ANNIKA proved about the LPGA Tour

While Trump struggled to a round of 83, there were 39 players who posted sub-par rounds at Pelican Golf Club on Thursday.

Haeran Ryu leads after day one following a sublime round of six-under par 64, with Grace Kim slotted in behind her on five-under.

Meanwhile, a round of two-under par wasn’t good enough to get inside the top-five.

Trump’s round of 83 was the worst score of the day by four strokes.

This isn’t a criticism of the teenager. As mentioned earlier, she’s a very good golfer but the truth of the matter is that she is simply nowhere near the level required to play on the LPGA Tour … yet!

If anything, her round of 13-over par proved one thing – the fact that the players on the LPGA Tour are incredibly good, and actually much better than some people think.

The course at the Pelican Golf Club was playing far from easy on Thursday, yet 53 players in the field of 108 competitors posted rounds of even-par or better.

To succeed on the LPGA Tour is an incredibly difficult thing to do. Trump has plenty of talent, but Thursday’s round would have been a real learning curve for her.

Kai Trump’s LPGA Tour debut stats from day one at The ANNIKA

Trump was clearly proud of her efforts in the Sunshine State on Thursday, and so she should be.

However, it’s obvious to see which department of her game requires drastic improvement.

Firstly, it’s worth remembering that Pelican Golf Club played at 6,300 yards on Thursday to a par of 70.

That is a seriously long golf course for an 18-year-old female golfer.

However, what is clear to see is that it was actually her putting which let her down.

She hit just over 50% of the fairways and only just under 50% of greens in regulation.

While Kai Trump could definitely improve with her iron play, it was her putting that really let her down on day one of The Annika in her LPGA Tour debut.

She will undoubtedly come back stronger from her disappointment in Florida on Thursday, and she will now realize just how good the ladies on the LPGA Tour really are.