Kai Trump is set to make her LPGA debut, and she has a unique advantage: the legendary Tiger Woods is in her corner. Woods, currently dating Kai's mother, Vanessa, offered her some valuable advice before she competes at The Annika tournament in Naples, Florida on November 13.
“He is the best golfer in the entire world. I would say that. And even better person,” Kai remarked in an interview on November 11. “He told me to go out there and have fun and just go with the flow. Whatever happens, happens.”
At just 18 years old, Kai has already committed to play golf at the University of Miami in 2026. She received a sponsor exemption to participate in the tournament, a decision that sparked debate among critics who questioned her qualifications, suggesting her social media presence and lineage as President Donald Trump's granddaughter played a role in her selection.
Golf icon Annika Sorenstam, for whom the tournament is named, expressed admiration for Kai's composure amidst scrutiny. “I just don’t know how she does it, honestly,” Sorenstam stated in a Reuters interview published on November 12. “To be [18] years old and hear all the comments, she must be super tough on the inside.”
Sorenstam emphasized the importance of supporting Kai during this pivotal moment. “We want her to feel like family here and I want her to feel welcome. I mean, give this girl a chance, right? I think that’s our responsibility this week,” she added.
Dan Doyle Jr., owner of The Pelican Club hosting the event, defended the exemption as a means to draw attention to women's golf. “The idea of the exemption, when you go into the history of exemptions, is to bring attention to an event,” he explained. “You got [to see Kai] live. 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.”
While Kai has not directly addressed the controversy surrounding her exemption, she expressed eagerness to compete against top-tier players. “My dream has been to compete with the best in the world on the LPGA Tour,” she stated in an October press release. “This event will be an incredible experience. I look forward [to] meeting and competing against so many of my heroes and mentors in golf as I make my LPGA Tour debut.”
Kai, daughter of Donald Trump Jr. and Vanessa Trump, has a significant social media following, boasting over 6 million combined followers. She recently shared her experiences with her grandfather on social media, promoting her new series titled "1 on 1 with Kai." “I had an amazing time filming with my Grandpa to kick off my new series,” she wrote on Instagram in October. “In the video, everyone gets to see the bond we have, especially on the golf course.”
This debut marks a significant milestone for Kai as she steps into the spotlight of professional golf.
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