Kai Trump shoots 83 and her own foot – but we should get her to the Australian Open
The US President’s granddaughter has made her polarising LPGA debut - it didn’t go well. But somebody tell Golf Australia boss James Sutherland to tell Anthony Albanese to tell Kevin Rudd to tell Donald Trump to tell Kai Trump that she can have a hit at next year’s tournament.
Sport can take itself too seriously. Kai Trump received a sponsor’s exemption for her LPGA debut and everyone’s knickers were knotted because a) they hate grandpa as the American president or b) she was undeserving or c) a bit of both or d) some people just love to have a whinge.
Sport must remember what it is. Tremendously important and unimportant in the same fleeting breath.
The leader of the free world was absent when 18-year-old Kai Trump teed off at the tournament with the longest name in history: The Annika Driven by Gainbridge at Pelican. Who’s Gainbridge? The chauffeur? Work’s kinda busy for grandpa at the moment and so it was left to Kai, who has six million social media followers, and a lovely swing, and a pleasant demeanour, and is assuredly a professional in the making, to have the limelight to herself. Go get ‘em.
The organisers had every right to plonk her in the field. Sponsors want and deserve a bang for their buck. Thanks to Trump, women’s golf received the biggest bang since the one that allegedly started the universe. Her first tee shot was a doozy. Nice stance, textbook grip, rhythmical swing, ball up the middle of the fairway, thanks for coming. Gainbridge was delighted. Her next 82 strokes left a little to be desired, but them’s the breaks.
Somebody tell Golf Australia boss James Sutherland to tell Anthony Albanese to tell Kevin Rudd to tell Donald Trump to tell Kai Trump that she can have a hit at next year’s Women’s Australian Open.
Actually, best to leave Kevin out of it, but golf should always go hogwild with its exemptions. The LPGA should have grouped Trump with Margot Robbie and Taylor Swift. It would make no difference to the serious end of the tournament. Why not send out a few celebs for a hit?
The president’s special little girl shot in the range we knew she would. Her foot, and a 13-over-par 83, putting her stone motherless last. She’s not actually motherless, of course, but the daughter of Vanessa Trump, who’s dating Tiger Woods, a fun fact you couldn’t make up if you tried.
Her score went from the White House to the doghouse but she didn’t embarrass herself, Gainbridge, the president or the free world. No need to tee off on her involvement.
Because golf is unique. A Kai Trump can be in the field for promotional purposes without getting in the way of the pacesetters.
The apprentice with talent doesn’t stuff up the draw, or delay proceedings, or come with any real downside. It’s a talking point for a couple of days before she misses the cut and we knuckle down to the nitty-gritty of the tournament’s final furlongs.
Australia’s Grace Kim could have given Trump a shot per hole and finished all-square.
Kim’s dazzling five-under 65 put her one stroke shy of the lead, held by Korea’s Haeran Ryu (64), in the penultimate event of the LPGA season.
Young Trump was racking up so many bogeys she might have called Kristi Noem, the Secretary of Homeland Security, for assistance, but Kim continued making Australian women’s golf great again.
Her eagle, birdie, eagle finish to win her first major at The Evian was a highlight of the sporting year.
“At the start of the year I was quite low with my self-confidence,” she said. “I still have times where I don’t think I’m good enough. I’m quick to be negative internally … but I just try to give 100 per cent and all that I have. I’m still learning about that. Learning you don’t always need your A-game to get it done. I’ll keep trying to carry that forward.”
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