Kai Trump, the granddaughter of US President Donald Trump, has revealed she will make her professional golf debut on the LPGA Tour later this year. The 18-year-old will compete at The Annika Driven By Gainbridge tournament at Pelican Golf Club in Belleair, Florida this November.
The event represents the second-to-last competition on the tour’s calendar and offers a platform for emerging talent in the sport. Kai was spotted alongside her grandfather Donald Trump at the Ryder Cup at Bethpage Black, New York in September, where Team Europe secured a 15-13 victory against Team USA.
The teenager received a personalised Whoop device from tournament sponsors – a privilege typically reserved for Team USA players, staff and company personnel. The Annika boasts a substantial prize pool of $3.25million (£2.46m), with Kai taking time away from her University of Miami studies to participate.
The amateur golfer shared her excitement with her 910,000 social media followers on Tuesday. “What’s up guys, I am thrilled to announce that I will be making my LPGA Tour debut in November at The Annika Driven By Gainbridge,” said Kai in a video posted on X, formerly known as Twitter.
“The Annika is at the Pelican Golf Club. It has been a dream of mine to compete at the professional level and I’d like to thank the Pelican Golf Club for the invitation.
“I’m looking forward to teeing it up and competing with the best players in the world at one of the most premier venues on tour. I will see you guys Nov. 10-16 at the Pelican Golf Club in Belleair, Florida. I’ll see you guys there.”
Kai, the daughter of Donald Trump Jr. and Vanessa Trump, is a rising star in the golfing world. The young amateur golfer, currently ranked 979th among junior girls in the Universal Golf Rankings, is set to face one of her toughest challenges yet at the upcoming event in Florida.
With over six million followers across social media platforms, Kai recently launched an apparel and lifestyle brand targeting young women in sports. “Sponsor invitations are an important way to spotlight emerging talent and bring new attention to our tournaments and the LPGA,” Ricki Lasky, the chief tour business and operations officer at the LPGA, recently said.
“Kai’s broad following and reach are helping introduce golf to new audiences, especially among younger fans. We’re excited to see her take this next step in her journey.”
Earlier this year, Kai competed at the Junior Invitational at Sage Valley, finishing last in a field of 24 players. The Annika tournament will feature some of the world’s top golfers, including Charley Hull and the 2024 Chevron Championship winner, as well as defending champion, Nelly Korda.