Golf isn’t always kind. Kai Trump’s LPGA debut is proof. She got her sponsor invite to play in the ANNIKA, and it garnered a lot of attention. Then came THE DAY, and she shot 13 over. Her score raised questions about her skills. Then in the second round, she showed massive improvement.  5-over 75. A stunning 8-shot jump from her first-day 83. But that valiant comeback was not enough to make the cut. But Kai learnt a lot, as this brought her closer to her dream, and now, she is thankful for it all.

“What an incredible honor and opportunity to compete in my first LPGA Tour Event at @theannikalpga ! This week was an absolute dream come true. There are so many amazing people I want to thank for making it happen and for being so supportive,” she wrote. “A huge thank you to the Doyle Family, @annikas59, the entire staff at the Pelican Golf Club, Dan Towriss and his team at @gainbridgelife, and Tim Erensen and his team at @teamoutlyr. You all made this week so special for me.”

“It was a lifelong dream to play in an LPGA event, and this is just the start. I learned so much about my game and myself out there. I was so impressed by all the LPGA players I met and got to watch as well. I’m going to use this experience to keep growing as a person and as a golfer. Thank you all for the support! 🫶”

Kai Trump’s “nervous” 83 had zero birdies, but her resilient 75 included four birdies. She even tied the score of her playing partner, major champ Hinako Shibuno, on day two. This entire week, Kai had support from her loved ones.

First, it was Annika herself who defended her exemption. Her caddie, Allan, was with her the whole time, helping her navigate the greens. The two even shared a laugh when Kai didn’t make the cut. She showed immense maturity when she talked about moving on from the loss humbly.

Her mother and Tiger Woods were also supportive of her. Woods gave him very smart advice to just enjoy the course and take things as they come. Vanessa, Kai’s loving mother, was quick to tell her she was ‘proud’ of her, despite the result.

As Kai’s post rolled out, world No. 6 Charley Hull “liked” the Instagram post, showcasing significant public endorsement, and Hull’s support went deeper than just a simple “like.” She had already praised Trump’s performance earlier.

“That’s really good, considering this is not just an easy LPGA event; this is probably one of the hardest courses that we play on. So, for her to come out, she had to be so nervous. It was her first LPGA event — I remember my first event I was really nervous — and she’s got a lot of pressure on her and a lot of eyes on her,” Hull said of Kai.

And Hull’s support was just the tip of the iceberg as the fans quickly followed the star’s lead and flooded Kai’s post with positive messages.

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The fan rally..from the locker room to the comments

“Well done young lady👏👏👏,” wrote one fan. This praise was well-earned. Critics expected a total collapse as one sportsbook set her over/under at a high 92.5. Kai shattered that, and her 8-shot jump from 83 to 75 was amazing. “She stands so tall,” wrote another fan, acknowledging Kai’s grit.

Many comments seemed to miss the score entirely and focused on a different kind of victory. The commentators understood her personal goal and congratulated her, saying, “Congratulations Kai! 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻”. And this is absolutely not about her 108th-place finish. It is about her dream.

Of course, her loyal supporters also chimed in and offered support, saying, “You’re the absolute best”. Is she the “best” golfer? Not quiet, but she sure is honest to her game and her journey.

Others just repeated the same feeling, saying, “Pro Golfer 😍”.  In their eyes, Kai has earned that title.

Finally, some fans saw the debut for what it was. It was not an ending. It was just a beginning. So they said, “Focused High on Soaring Ambitions …”  The young golfer joined the University of Miami in 2026. So, this debut was just the first lesson in a long journey.