BELLEAIR, Fla. \u2014 A handful of the world\u2019s top golfers will be teeing it up at the LPGA Tour event The ANNIKA at the Pelican Golf Club this week.<\/p>\n
\u201cI think any tournament wants buzz,\u201d golfing legend and tournament host Annika Sorenstam said.<\/p>\n
Maybe it\u2019s the buzz of superstar Nelly Korda returning to defend her title, or it\u2019s an even bigger name.<\/p>\n
\u201cOne thing that\u2019s different this year, I\u2019ve never seen so many Secret Service people around here,\u201d Sorenstam said.<\/p>\n
That\u2019s because Kai Trump, the granddaughter of President Donald Trump, is set to make her professional golf debut at 18 years old.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s really cool to say that I\u2019m playing my first LPGA Tour event and I\u2019m only (a senior) in high school,\u201d Trump said.<\/p>\n
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Instagram\/kyleburgertv<\/p>\n
Kai Trump at the Pelican Golf Club<\/p>\n
Trump was granted a sponsor invitation to play in The ANNIKA. Pelican Club owner Dan Boyle Jr. hopes the addition of Trump makes this one of the most-talked-about LPGA events in the tour\u2019s 75-year history.<\/p>\n
\u201cShe brought a lot of viewers through Instagram that normally don\u2019t watch women\u2019s golf, was the hopes,\u201d Doyle, Jr. said. \u201cWe\u2019re seeing it now on Instagram and social media. It\u2019s created a buzz on top of the other great players we have here.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI want women\u2019s golf to succeed,\u201d Sorenstam added. \u201cWe can do this together or we can not. I choose the first one.\u201d<\/p>\n
Kai\u2019s grandfather is an avid golfer. She said they played together frequently.<\/p>\n
But will the President of the United States be at the Pelican for his granddaughter\u2019s professional debut?<\/p>\n
\u201cHe is not coming this weekend. He is running the world right now. He\u2019s a little busy. To me he\u2019s just a normal grandpa. Always has been,\u201d she said. \u201cMy grandpa pretty much told me to go out there, have fun, don\u2019t get nervous. And, I\u2019ll try my best not to.\u201d<\/p>\n
Trump is a University of Miami golf commit, has a famous last name, and yet is still starstruck with her chance to compete with the world\u2019s best.<\/p>\n
\u201cIn the morning, yesterday, I saw Nelly on the range,\u201d Trump said. \u201cThat was pretty cool. She was definitely up before me. It was cool seeing her. Honestly, all these players they\u2019re all amazing. They\u2019re all good at what they do. It\u2019s cool to be inside the ropes with them and actually be on the range with them.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI don\u2019t think any here is thinking she will be the one holding the trophy on Sunday,\u201d Sorenstam added. \u201cIt\u2019s about opportunities and memories and lessons learned.\u201d<\/p>\n
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Kyle Burger \/ WFTS<\/p>\n
Kai Trump at the Pelican Golf Club<\/p>\n
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