Kai Trump, the 18-year-old granddaughter of former US President Donald Trump, is poised to make her highly anticipated professional golf debut this week at The Annika tournament, held at the Pelican Golf Club in Florida.
A Presidential Pep Talk
Ahead of her first professional round, which begins on Thursday, November 13, Kai has shared the personal advice she received from her grandfather. Despite his global responsibilities preventing him from attending in person, Donald Trump offered succinct, supportive words for the occasion.
"He's running the world right now, so a little busy," Kai stated, as reported by The Independent. She elaborated on their shared passion for the game, noting, "We play a lot. We have a great time out there, we're always on the same team as well." His core message to her was simple yet powerful: "Go out there and have fun. Just don't get nervous."
Stepping onto the Professional Stage
Kai's entry into the professional arena is a significant moment, amplified by the tournament's substantial £2,470,000 ($3,250,000) prize purse. She earned one of three coveted sponsor exemptions to compete, bringing with her a substantial social media following of over nine million people.
Currently ranked No. 461 by the American Junior Golf Association, Kai first entered the public spotlight during last year's Republican National Convention. She expressed immense enthusiasm for the opportunity to learn from the world's best players.
"I think I'm going to learn a lot no matter what happens," Kai said. "I'm just going to go out there and have fun and see which way it goes... Obviously, competing with the best players is going to be cool. To be inside the ropes with them, playing with them, learning what kind of shots they hit, what do they do on the course."
Broadening the Appeal of Women's Golf
The tournament's efforts to raise the profile of the LPGA include featuring WNBA star Caitlin Clark in the Pro-Am competition. Kai Trump strongly endorsed this move, highlighting its success in attracting new viewers.
"She's lovely to speak to and she brought a lot of viewers through Instagram and things like that that normally don't watch women's golf was the hopes - and we're seeing it now," Kai explained. "So it's created a buzz on top of the other great players that we have here."
This strategic inclusion mirrors the experience of tournament host and golf legend Annika Sorenstam, who faced her own controversy upon receiving a PGA Tour invitation in 2003. Sorenstam defended Kai's involvement, stating, "Kai brings a lot of different people to the sport, and we want people to hear about our tournament and be part of it."
Sorenstam added that the alignment with The ANNIKA Foundation's mission of empowering women made the decision a natural fit. Kai, who played a nine-hole practice round with Sorenstam, called the experience "amazing" and valued the chance to ask the legend for swing advice.
Reflecting on what drives her passion for the sport, Kai concluded: "I think what I love most about golf is that it's challenging. You're never going to be 100 per cent, and there's always something to work on. I think that's what keeps on bringing me back to play golf and practice golf."
