Kai Trump, a senior at The Benjamin School and a 2026 University of Miami commit, has a sponsor exemption to play The ANNIKA at Pelican Golf Club in Belleair, Florida (Nov 13–16, 2025). (Source: LPGA)

Season Context: Penultimate Stop Before CME

The ANNIKA is the second-to-last event of the LPGA season, right before the CME finale—high stakes, elite pairings, maximum attention.

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Pelican Preview: What To Watch

• Early composure. Pelican’s fast TifEagle greens reward clean speed control; it’s a perfect week to borrow pace tricks you’ll see on TV.

  If you’re practicing at home, a long mat like the Wellputt 26ft Classic Putting Mat (printed drills + distance cues) or a compact option like the Perfect Practice Putting Mat (9’6”) makes the Lag-Line Ladder simple indoors.

• The cut line. Making the weekend would be a huge experience ahead of college and future starts.

• Crowd effect. Bigger galleries + more cameras can lift energy across the field.

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Why Golfers Should Care

• Pathway, proven

  Junior success + a clear college track can meet pro chances via exemptions. (Source: Reuters)

• Copy-and-paste learning

  A late-season, high-quality field is a perfect lab for shot selection, pace putting, and pre-shot routines—the same “hide the score” approach we use in our Score-Blind Golf Plan to calm nerves without losing stats.

• Fan-first shift

  Tours are moving toward clearer storylines and better viewing; see our breakdown in The PGA Tour’s NFL Playbook—What It Means for Your Golf.

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Attending? Read This First

High-profile weeks bring VIPs on site.

Brush up with The Golf Etiquette Guide Every Player Wishes They Had and, for pace and flow across all 18, skim 18 Holes of Golf: Time, Strategy & Etiquette Guide.

If pairings get tricky, this primer helps you handle difficult playing partners.

Stay current all week: our always-updated News hub keeps big stories in one place.

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Gear add-on: Use a tidy target like the GoSports LAG Circle Putting & Chipping Rings (3 ft & 6 ft) or a pop-up net such as the Callaway Chip-Shot Chipping Net for wedge landings, and keep aim honest with GoSports 48” Golf Alignment Sticks or Callaway Golf Alignment Sticks (Set of 2).

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Most golfers treat ANNIKA week as entertainment. Here’s how to steal three shots before Thanksgiving—using the same simple drills players run at Pelican.

🔐ANNIKA Week Playbook: Turn Pro Golf Into Lower Scores

Short, practical, and built to show results in two weeks.

Watch Like A Scout (60 Minutes):

• Follow one group for 6 holes and track just three items: start line, miss bias, first-putt distance.

• Copy one routine you see (tee or green) and use it next round. For instant green gains, pair your notes with 7 pro putting secrets.

Two Pelican-Style Drills

• Landing-Zone Wedge

  20 balls to a towel at 70–90 yds. 1 point for a land; 2 points if it also finishes inside a hula-hoop. Goal: 15.

• Lag-Line Ladder

  Putts from 20/30/40 ft focused only on distance; aim to finish inside 3 ft (use the putting secrets above).

One-Shape Driver Plan (Tight Windows)

Pick one shot shape (fade or draw) for the week. Keep tee height constant, aim to the safe side, and swing that shape on every tee.

If the face leaks open, run our driver slice fixer to tighten the start line and contact.

The Six-Stat Round Card (Copy/Paste)

Track only: Fairways, Miss L/R, GIR, First-putt distance, Three-putts, Penalties/Recoveries.

If score nerves show up, play score-blind and review stats after 18 (see the Score-Blind Golf Plan).

45-Minute “Pro Habits” Session

• Tempo loop (10m): wedge → 7-iron → driver at 75%.

• Start-line gate (10m): a tee gate 3 ft ahead for putter and 7-iron.

• Up-and-down circuit (15m): tight, fluffy, bunker—3 balls each, score to par.

• Finish calm (10m): box breathing + five slow rehearsal swings with your new routine.

Parents & Juniors: Clean Support

• Before

  One process goal (“one start line all day”) + one behavior goal (“reset in 10 seconds”).

• During

  No tip-dumping—ask, “What’s your cue for this shot?”

• After

  A 3-line debrief: one keep, one change, one drill. If a pairing gets awkward, lean on handling difficult partners to keep the day smooth.

Two-Week Plan Around The ANNIKA

Event week: watch 9 holes with your scout sheet, run lag ladder and landing-zone wedge twice, play one score-blind round.

Week after: commit to one driver shape, keep speed-first putting, and log the six stats each round.

For time/flow, revisit the 18-hole guide so pace and etiquette don’t cost strokes.

—ParTalk.com