The LPGA Tour is heating up as it heads into its final events of the 2025 season, and the latest updates show major storylines worth noting. At the centre of attention is the upcoming The ANNIKA driven by Gainbridge tournament—set for November 13–16 at the Pelican Golf Club in Belleair, Florida—and other developments involving age-waivers for rising stars and high-profile guest appearances.
Major Tournament Finally Arrives: The ANNIKA At Pelican
The ANNIKA will mark one of the final stops in the 2025 LPGA schedule, with a purse of $3.25 million and a field stacked with top players.
- Dates: November 13–16, 2025.
- Venue: Pelican Golf Club, Belleair, Florida.
- Par: 70; Yardage: 6,349 yards (per tournament overview).
- Defending champion: Nelly Korda, winner of the event in 2024.
The event schedule is set: Thursday and Friday coverage begins at 10 a.m. ET on Golf Channel, followed by later coverage on Saturday and Sunday. Streaming is available via the NBC Sports App.
Star Attraction: Caitlin Clark Returns for Pro-Am
One of the most buzzed-about participants isn’t a full LPGA pro, but college basketball standout and golf enthusiast Caitlin Clark. She’s back for her second-year appearance in the event’s Pro-Am, drawing huge fan interest.
In recent coverage she paired with Korda for a nine-hole loop at Pelican and drew sizeable crowds at the opening tee box. Korda described the scene as “something out of a book almost.”
Emerging Talent: Age Waiver Granted to Teen Prodigy
Meanwhile, the LPGA Tour is making headlines off the course: 17-year-old amateur star Gianna Clemente has been granted a special age waiver to attempt Tour membership ahead of becoming 18 in March 2026.
Here’s what happened:
- Normally, players must be 18 to hold LPGA membership.
- Clemente, from Estero, Florida, has already made approximately 10 LPGA Tour starts as an amateur in the past three years.
- The age waiver permits her to compete in the Tour’s final qualifying stage (Q Series) scheduled for December 4–8 in Mobile, Alabama, for the 2026 season.
This move underscores the LPGA’s willingness to fast-track exceptional youth talent and could reshape access pathways going forward.
Sponsor’s Invite Sparks Conversation: Kai Trump at The ANNIKA
Another storyline generating buzz: the invite issued to 18-year-old Kai Trump to play in The ANNIKA via a sponsor’s exemption.
Key details:
- Trump is the granddaughter of former U.S. President Donald Trump and is making her first LPGA-tour event appearance.
- Her invitation is expected to bring extra attention — both social media and mainstream — to the event.
- The LPGA views her participation as part of a drive to attract younger fans and broader audiences.
What This Means For U.S. Audiences and Fans
For American golf fans, the LPGA’s current momentum offers plenty of reasons to tune in:
- The ANNIKA event is U.S-based (Florida), easily accessible for U.S. viewers and broadcast.
- The inclusion of popular personalities (like Clark) and emerging talent (Clemente) diversifies the on-course storylines.
- With the season nearing its close, playoff races, standings and Tour-cards for 2026 are on the line.
Quick Snapshot: Key Facts to Know
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Event | The ANNIKA driven by Gainbridge |
| Location | Pelican Golf Club, Belleair, Florida |
| Dates | Nov 13–16, 2025 |
| Purse | $3.25 million |
| Defending champ | Nelly Korda |
| Broadcast | Golf Channel / NBC Sports App |
| Special storylines | Caitlin Clark Pro-Am return; Kai Trump sponsor invite; Gianna Clemente age-waiver |
Why This Matters
The LPGA is not just finishing its 2025 season—it’s evolving how it engages fans, uses star power and opens doors to young talent. The ANNIKA event acts as a showcase of that dynamic: a major-tier tournament, cultural crossovers, social media presence, and youth ambition all wrapped together.
If you’re a U.S. golf fan, this is an ideal moment to follow the LPGA: the tournament provides a full weekend of viewing, the narratives are rich, and the stakes for 2026 membership and major-status positioning remain high.
Let us know what storyline you’re most excited about—whether it’s Caitlin Clark’s return, Gianna Clemente’s breakthrough or Kai Trump’s debut—and stay tuned for big moments on the LPGA.