Question of the week [Nov. 10-16]: What is your opinion of the The Annika, this week's LPGA event, extending a sponsor exemption to Kai Trump? Trump, 18, is a University of Miami commit who is No. 461 in the American Junior Golf Association rankings, and has finished no higher than 24th in three 2025 AJGA starts. Her average score for nine rounds is 83.56.
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Every tournament would give her or anyone related to P47 [President Donald Trump] an exemption. If the President regarded denying her request as a personal affront — he could bring the might of the federal government down against the tournament, sponsors, golf course and anyone with anything to do with the event. The only thing he enjoys more than golf is exercising his power to exact retribution for anything he perceives as an injury or slight.
No tournament could take that risk. There is also a practical and financial consideration, namely she will increase attendance and have the largest gallery. If a request were made, she would have to be given a special exemption to the U.S. Women's Open — or any event. If it came to it, I would bet on her playing in the Masters — which would require waiving the ultimate golf norms and traditions (but it is just the most extreme example of what is occurring here — a tournament exemption).
I know it sounds crazy, but look how the major law firms, universities and other institutions have abandoned what once were regarded as norms and traditions. "Might makes right," especially if people are aware that might is exercised frequently.
Sid Croft
Torrance, California
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If it wasn’t President Donald Trump‘s niece, she would never be invited with that ranking and those scores. She is not deserving of a spot. If you saw the President’s recent appearance at the Washington Commanders game, the fans were not kind … many cat calls, boo’s and flipping him the bird.
Would like to believe that the crowds at this event would be more subdued and kinder to an 18-year-old girl. With that said there’s a lot of people pissed off at Trump and you never know how people may react.
Edmund J. Woronicz
Hanahan, South Carolina
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No one with the name Trump should receive an exemption from anything, especially a relative of the current President, of which Kai Trump is the oldest granddaughter. I have no idea the type of person she is, but, no doubt, granddaddy Donald has given her a few pointers in cheating on the golf course. No exemption for Kai Trump.
Jim Pomeranz
Cary, North Carolina
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Not really sure of all the purposes of a sponsor's exemption but in this case it seems more like marketing than performance. Too bad a more capable player misses out on the chance to play. Is it political too? Hmmm ... probably.
Craig Libhart
Bainbridge, Pennsylvania
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The two things the LPGA needs to improve on are purse size and eyeballs, especially younger eyeballs. Eyeballs will eventually drive purse sizes. Kai Trump has over 2,000,000 social media followers. Almost all of them under 25. Put these two together and the question answers itself.
Chris Belanger
Cincinnati, Ohio
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Politics has found its way into many aspects of daily life in the U.S. Giving Kai Trump an exemption appears to be a political decision by the LPGA rather than a decision based on abilities and demonstrated performance. It is preferential.
This, unfortunately, is another step in politicizing sports. I am OK if athletes — basketball players, football players, soccer players, golfers — offer their voices to a particular issue or raise a concern about aspects of human behaviors, fairness and questionable policies, but I find activism by an organization such as the LPGA is bad business. The LPGA already has its challenges in viewership and purses, so the decision to exempt Trump is a wrong decision. It is repulsive to this golfer.
Jim Fuquay
Indianapolis, Indiana
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Way too much, way too soon. She obviously has talent but this is just a play for television ratings. From her perspective it is an exciting opportunity. I hope she goes in with the right expectations.
Rick Wright
McAllen, Texas
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Some sponsor exemptions occur to drive interest in the tournament. Mission accomplished.
Sue Bennett
Dagsboro, Delaware
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Let’s clarify one thing at the outset. Kai Trump is a very good golfer.
Now to answer the question with a question. If Kai Trump’s last name wasn’t Trump would she even be considered as an invitee? I would have to go with a resounding, “Are you kidding me?” Kai Trump would be so far down the pecking order for invitations that one would lose count.
Ranking 461 on the AJGA should be all that is necessary to tell you that she has no business teeing it up this week at grandpa’s friends event.
Paul Vicary
The Villages, Florida
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Sponsor exemptions are typically used for deserving players or publicity. This one looks like publicity, but nothing wrong with that.
Tracy Newsome
Greenville, South Carolina
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I’m sure those who hate all things Trump will rail against this invite. Those with derangement syndrome includes even grandchildren with their hatred.
If nobody had issues with Tiger Woods’ son getting invites, this should be fine as well.
It’s a nice gesture and will probably draw some viewers as well as the haters.
Vinny Mooney
Poughkeepsie, New York
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I have no problem with Kai Trump receiving a sponsor exemption. Girls mature earlier than boys, so she is physically mature enough to play with LPGA ladies. It's common for tournaments to use exemptions for local personalities and Kai fits that description. She has shown social maturity beyond her years. Her golf game may not be LPGA competitive yet, but it's good enough for major college and won't be an embarrassment. If her presence draws more attention and viewership to the tournament then it will be an exemption well invested.
Barry Burks
Knoxville Tennessee
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I do not believe this young lady should have received an invitation to compete in The Annka. Giving her this "place" to compete means that several other more qualified players were omitted; players who are much higher ranked than Ms. Trump, either collegiate or professional female golfers.
I have worked this tournament for the past four years as an Florida State Golf Association volunteer and have a bit of knowledge as to how some of this space has been filled over these years. Twice Caitlin Clark, a player of significant renown to a large cross-market of college and professional sport fans, has received invitations. Her invitations, though, have been to the pro-am only, not the tournament proper. And there are many other similar examples where invitations such as this have not bothered me since pro-ams are held to increase the revenue income for such sport events.
To give a spot to Ms. Trump appears to be a pure political play and will not enhance revenue to either the pro-am or LPGA Tour event.
Tom Powers
Bradenton, Florida
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Being the title sponsor of an LPGA or PGA event comes with certain responsibilities and privileges. The obvious responsibilities are ponying up big money to support the purse, the infrastructure of putting on the event, and hopefully a large charitable contribution to the community. The privilege is getting a certain amount of TV/media exposure, which you are really paying for anyway, to help build your brand, and within that, getting a small number of sponsor exemptions for you to freely use to invite participants you feel will add exposure to the tournament, and help build the tournament and your brand.
While I personally prefer for sponsor invites to go to pros that may have ties to the community, those struggling to get into tournaments and needing the opportunity to make an all important paycheck, or aspiring top amateur/collegiate players destined for either tour, I fully respect the sponsor's privilege to invite someone with a high national or local profile to bring exposure to the tournament, helping the sponsor build its brand and the tournament itself.
Last year, for The Annika, it was Caitlin Clark, also a returnee to this year's tournament. Would anyone have heard of the tournament at all without her last year? And this year it's Kai Trump. Regardless of your political views, there's not many names in America today bigger than theTrump name. Thus, the immediate exposure for a tournament that for the most part no one is even aware of that is taking place this week. With the LPGA being in Asia for six weeks, they have been mostly invisible in the golfing and sports world.
So let's be glad the LPGA and PGA tours can get and keep title sponsors for tournaments this time of year while most everyone is watching football, and cut the sponsors a little slack for them doing what they can to build their brands and their tournaments.
Barry Duckworth
Knoxville, Tennessee
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I don't know Kai Trump, but her stats are not good enough to merit this honor. I believe that this is a classic case of who she is and not what she is. If she's not President Trump's granddaughter, we may have never heard of her. Hopefully she is a fine young lady who may one day be a great golfer. I'm sure her life will be just fine whether she plays in this tournament or not. However I should think there is a much more deserving young golfer who will not get this gift who may have been better off in life is she did.
Art Williams
Luzerne, Pennsylvania
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Front: Kai Trump, left, walks with her grandfather, President Donald Trump.
Photo: Wikimedia Commons