The only way is onward and upward for Kai Trump.
The 18-year-old granddaughter of former President Donald Trump, Kai, ended up in last position during her debut LPGA tournament. On Friday, November 14, she didn’t make the cut at The ANNIKA, hosted at Pelican Golf Club in Belleair, Florida, after a score of +18 over the initial two tournament days.
Despite the less-than-perfect performance, Kai did improve her score by eight strokes in the second round.
“I was definitely experiencing some nerves on the first day,” Kai admitted to Golf Channel that Friday. “I believe the nerves simply overwhelmed me. But when I went out today, I felt a sense of calm and peace. That’s why my game improved.”
She also stated, “I gave it my absolute all during this tournament.”
Kai is the offspring of Donald Trump Jr. and Vanessa Trump, who is presently in a relationship with Tiger Woods.
Prior to her first LPGA event, Kai disclosed that she had sought guidance from her mom’s boyfriend, 49.
“In my opinion, he’s the world’s best golfer – even better as a person,” Kai remarked to Fox News Digital on Tuesday, November 11, concerning Woods. “His advice was to go out there, enjoy myself, and simply go with the flow. Let things unfold as they will.”
Kai’s participation in the tournament sparked controversy even before it started. She was granted a sponsor exemption, leading critics to suggest that her inclusion was solely due to her famous last name and significant social media presence.
Dan Doyle Jr., who owns The Pelican Club, defended Kai’s participation alongside some of the world’s top golfers.
“The goal of the exemption, historically, is to attract attention to an event,” he explained. “You had the chance to see [Kai] in person. She’s wonderful to talk to and she attracted numerous viewers through platforms like Instagram who don’t normally watch women’s golf.”
In spite of her last-place result, Kai did leave a positive impression on many of her fellow players during the week.
“It’s quite remarkable, considering this LPGA event isn’t easy; it’s probably among the most challenging courses we compete on,” Charley Hull, currently ranked No. 6 globally, commented to Golf Channel. “For her to participate, she must have been incredibly nervous. It was her first LPGA event – I remember how nervous I was at my first – and she’s under a lot of pressure and scrutiny.”
Olivia Cowan, who played with Kai on both days, mentioned that the young golfer’s “attitude was excellent,” though she did admit that it felt “a bit unusual” to play with Secret Service present.
“It wasn’t typical,” Cowan shared with Golf Channel. “I’ve played before with crowds, so that wasn’t new. However, I think they were mainly focused on her, so as soon as she was done [hitting], they were moving. We only had to remind them a few times to stop.”
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