Women sports worlds collide at The Annika

BELLEAIR, Fla. — Before things got serious, there was some fun.

Kai Trump showed off her basketball skills before she teed off at The Annika Pro Am. It was the final preparations before President Trump’s granddaughter made her LPGA debut.

Flipping the script, WNBA superstar Caitlin Clark showed off her golfing skills. Playing in The Annika Pro Am for the second-straight year, Clark admitted to being a little messy off the tee, but she appreciates the challenge of playing outside her element.

“I honestly haven’t played a ton, but it was fun,” Clark said. “I think any time you get to be out here and see these women do what they do really well, it’s really inspiring and really fun.”

Clark played in a group that included defending champ Nelly Korda. After a month away from the game for a preventative break due to her neck injury, Korda is back at the Pelican Golf Club — a course she loves and knows very well.

“I love coming back here,” Korda said. “It’s so close to home. I have so many family and friends coming out during the week, so it’s just a really feel-good tournament because I have a lot of great support behind me.”

This year’s field is stacked with 15 of the top 25 ranked golfers, including Korda, the world’s No. 2. This Bradenton resident owns The Annika. She’s won the tournament three of the past four years. Last year, she capped off one of the greatest seasons in LPGA history with her seventh tour victory. The reigning Rolex Player of the Year plays some of her best golf at The Annika.

“I just kind of feel comfortable out here,” Korda said. “I think just having like my family and friends in the crowd, and this is kind of the turf that I grew up on, so there is also that level of comfort.”