Time is money, and so is attention. The LPGA desperately needs both, and Annika is set to get a healthy dose of the former at this week’s event, but not just because a handful of the world’s best players, including reigning champion Nelly Korda, are pushing her.
Bringing extra eyes to proceedings in Pelikani Golf Club will be Kai Trump, the 18-year-old granddaughter of President Donald Trump, who has a seat on the court through a sponsor invitation.
Trump’s LPGA debut — and the controversy surrounding the invitation — perfectly illustrates a challenge the LPGA and new commissioner Craig Kessler face
Annika is the penultimate event of the season before next week’s CME Group Tour Championship for the top 60 players. In theory, this week should be about the tournament building to an exciting final centered around the best players in the game. In reality, much of the discussion surrounding the tour has focused on Trump’s unexpected invitation.
One look at Trump on paper tells you this stage is one she is not prepared for. Her Rolex AJGA ranking is 461. She is not in the top 3000 in the world amateur golf rankings. At the Junior Invitational at Sage Valley in the spring, Trump shot rounds of 89-79-83-89. She is committed to the University of Miami and dreams of playing on the LPGA one day.
Kai Trump is in Pelikan because of her last name and because of her massive following on social networks that eclipses 8 million across all platforms.
“Kai is a young player,” tournament host Annika Sorenstam said on Golf Channel’s Golf Central. “She’s committed to Miami and has aspirations to play (on the LPGA). I think she adds a little excitement to it.
“She has a huge following on social media. She loves the game. It’s so exciting to have her there. That’s what this tournament is about — helping young girls achieve their dream through the Annika Foundation. … So that’s kind of what this tournament is about. Very excited. There’s been a lot of talk and it’s already getting exposure that we’re excited about.”
Each tournament is given an invitation to sponsor. Sorenstam used hers on Wake Forest senior Anne-Sterre den Dunnen; title sponsor Gainbridge invited Northwestern All-American Lauryn Nguyen; and the club, which is owned by the Doyle family, invited Trump.
Big results are likely on (and on) the cards for Trump, and there is a chance that a circus-like atmosphere will be created around her and her group, which could be a detriment to players trying to break into the top 60 for next week’s final.
And yet…Trump’s invitation is also the kind of tactic the LPGA might need to expose. You see, conversation is the point.
“I would imagine, since Tuesday’s announcement, that this is one of the most talked about women’s golf tournaments that has probably ever existed,” Justin Sheehan, Pelican’s chief operating officer. said GOLF’s Michael Bamberger. “It’s on news channels and sports channels. The social media impression numbers, I think they call it, are staggering. Love it or hate it, it’s getting people talking about the event.
“We’re on a mission to grow this game. Seeing the impact Caitlin had last year was pretty exciting.”
Women’s golf has struggled to gain ground, build momentum and break into the larger sporting world. There are many reasons for this and many hurdles Kessler must overcome as he begins his tenure.
Last year, Korda went on a rough run. The then world No. 1 won five tournaments in a row, including a major, and finished the year with seven victories. Her outstanding play mirrored that of Scottie Scheffler on the men’s side and coincided with the increased power that Caitlin Clark, who will play in the Annika pro-am for the second year in a row, was providing in the WNBA.
But Korda’s historic season didn’t have the long-term impact the LPGA hoped for. cordage has not won this seasonand alone Current World Number 1 Jeeno Thitikul and Miyu Yamashita have won many tournaments. The LPGA has depth and parity, but a dominant superstar or superstars are what will put the league in front of new audiences and deliver the growth the league needs.
In an ideal world, the LPGA would have people tuning in this week to watch Korda, Charley Hull, Lexi Thompson, Lottie Woad and Rose Zhang without needing a carrot as an entry point.
But sometimes creativity is needed to spark interest and generate momentum.
In that sense, having Kai Trump on the field, along with Clark playing in Wednesday’s pro-am, is the kind of marketing that might be needed. It will make the Annika one of the most talked about LPGA events of the season and perhaps the best draw in recent years. If people who might not otherwise engage with the LPGA come to see Trump, there’s a chance they’ll stick around even after she’s gone. The same goes for those who show up Wednesday to watch Clark in the pro-am and get exposure to Korda and others.
“I don’t think it’s any different than any other tournament,” Sorenstam said. “You just want to bring more people into it, more eyeballs as they said and create excitement.”
Excluding Kai Trump is a Rorschach test.
On the one hand, there is a clear argument that her current playing ability makes her undeserving of a spot in the penultimate event of the LPGA season, with so much on the line for many of the players. Maybe you’re a golf purist who doesn’t believe that sponsor exemptions should exist at all. Maybe her grandfather plays a role in how you feel about her looks. It would be naive to think that this is not the case. On the other hand, Kai Trump is a celebrity, and celebrities bring attention, which can lead to growth and money. The LPGA must find a way to generate and continue to generate all of the above.
;)
