President Donald Trump\u2019s granddaughter made a splash on the green this week in Florida.<\/p>\n
Kai Trump, a high school senior, played in the second round of an LPGA tournament hosted by Hall of Fame golfer Annnika Sorenstam. <\/p>\n
Trump, 18, didn\u2019t make the cut after finishing last Friday among 108 players with a two-round total of 18-over, 27 shots behind the leader, the Los Angeles Times reported. <\/p>\n
But after a weak showing Thursday, she rebounded, landing briefly under par with four birdies and a near hole-in-one on Friday.<\/p>\n
Asked what she\u2019d tell her golfing grandfather about her round, she said, \u201cThat I hit a great shot on 18 two days in a row.\u201d<\/p>\n
Kai Trump enjoys a prominent social media presence with nearly 9 million followers \u2014 not all of them fans.<\/p>\n
And the critics weighed in, wondering how she got a sponsor invitation to the tournament. Dan Doyle Jr., owner of Pelican Golf Club, where the tournament was held, acknowledged her invitation was more about publicity than talent, the Times reported.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe idea of the exemption, when you go into the history of exemptions, is to bring attention to an event,\u201d Doyle told reporters. \u201cYou got to see her live, she\u2019s lovely to speak to.<\/p>\n
\u201cAnd she\u2019s brought a lot of viewers through Instagram, and things like that, who normally don\u2019t watch women\u2019s golf. That was the hope. And we\u2019re seeing that now.\u201d<\/p>\n
Trump, who is ranked No. 461 by the American Junior Golf Association, will attend the University of Miami next year, the Times reported.<\/p>\n
Sorenstam said she felt for young Trump having to deal with pressure of the spotlight and the glare of critics.<\/p>\n
\u201cI just don\u2019t know how she does it, honestly,\u201d Sorenstam said. \u201cTo be 18 years old and hear all the comments, she must be super tough on the inside. I\u2019m sure we can all relate what it\u2019s like to get criticism here and there, but she gets it a thousand times.\u201d<\/p>\n
In 2003 Sorenstam got an exemption to play in the Bank of America Colonial, the first woman to play in a men\u2019s PGA Tour event in 58 years. <\/p>\n
\u201cThat was, at the time, maybe a little bit of a controversial invite,\u201d Sorenstam said, according to the Times. \u201cIn the end, I certainly appreciated it. It just brings attention to the tournament, to the sport and to women\u2019s sports, which I think is what we want.\u201d<\/p>\n
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