BELLEAIR, Fla. – Amanda Doherty was one of the last players on the range Wednesday afternoon at Pelican Golf Club, putting some final swings in before The Annika driven by Gainbridge, the LPGA’s penultimate event, begins Thursday morning. The atmosphere around the tony property had long calmed following pro-am rounds by WNBA superstar Caitlin Clark and 18-year-old Kai Trump, the eldest granddaughter of the President and one of three sponsor exemptions into this week’s tournament.

Doherty, though, doesn’t have a tee time – at least not yet.

“I’m preparing like I’m in,” said Doherty, currently the first alternate for the 108-player field, “and then it’s just, you know, kind of waiting. I thought there was a decent chance, but now, probably pretty slim.”

Doherty, a 22-year-old who turned p

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