The LPGA's penultimate event of 2025 is underway, and the stars are aligning at The Annika at Pelican. Among the talented field are household names like Nelly Korda, Charley Hull, and Lexi Thompson, but the real buzz is around Kai Trump, the 18-year-old amateur golfer and granddaughter of President Donald Trump. Kai is making her LPGA debut this week, thanks to a sponsor exemption, and the anticipation is palpable.
The stage is set for an exciting tournament, with live updates from Thursday's action at The Annika. Keep an eye on the leaderboard, where every stroke counts. Kai Trump's first par of the day came at the par-5 fifth hole, but a bogey at No. 6 dropped her to 5 over, placing her in a tie for 98th. Madelene Sagstrom, on the other hand, had a stellar start, making five consecutive birdies on holes 14-18 for a 30 on her first nine holes, putting her in solo second as of 2 p.m. ET.
Kai Trump's first round didn't go as planned, with four straight bogeys putting her at 4 over and in a tie for 99th as of 1:50 p.m. ET. Meanwhile, Charley Hull, battling illness, withdrew from the pro-am portion but is still competing, sitting 1 under through seven holes as of 1:45 p.m. ET.
Nelly Korda, after a five-week break, is back in action. She skipped the Hanwha LifePlus International Crown to focus on her health, a strategic decision as she aims to turn her fortunes around. Korda, who won seven times last season, has yet to secure a victory this year, losing her World No. 1 ranking. However, Pelican has been kind to her in the past, and with three wins already, it's the perfect place for her to regain her form.
Haeran Ryu, seeking her fourth LPGA victory, fired a 64 on Thursday morning, making four straight birdies on holes 4-7. This impressive performance gave her a three-shot lead just after 1 p.m. ET, with a six-way tie for second place. As the tournament unfolds, all eyes are on Kai Trump, who is poised to make a splash in her LPGA debut, and the rest of the field, who are ready to challenge for the top spot.
