At just 18 years old, Kai Trump made her highly anticipated professional golf debut at The ANNIKA driven by Gainbridge LPGA tournament, held at Pelican Golf Club in Belleair, Florida, during the week of November 10-16, 2025. The granddaughter of President Donald Trump, Kai’s entry into the event was anything but ordinary, drawing unprecedented crowds and media attention, and sparking debate across the golfing world. With her seven million-strong social media following and a last name that needs no introduction, the high school senior’s first steps onto the LPGA stage were watched as much for spectacle as for sport.
Trump’s participation came via a sponsorship exemption, a move tournament organizers openly described as an effort to bring fresh eyes to women’s golf. "The idea of the exemption, when you go into the history of exemptions, is to bring attention to an event," explained Pelican Golf Club owner Don Doyle Jr. "[Kai’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 hope, and we’re seeing it now on Instagram and social media." Annika Sörenstam, the tournament’s namesake and host, echoed this sentiment, noting, “In this case Kai brings a lot of different people to the sport and we want people to hear about our tournament and be part of it.”
But with the attention came pressure—more than most rookies could imagine. Kai Trump was accompanied throughout the week by an entourage of eight Secret Service agents, a sight never before seen at an LPGA event. The security detail underscored her unique position as both an amateur golfer and a member of the first family. Sörenstam herself remarked, “One thing that’s different this year is I’ve never seen so many Secret Service people around here; I feel super safe, that’s another thing. ... I just don’t know how she does it honestly. To be 18 years old and hear all the comments, she must be super tough on the inside.”
The buzz around Kai’s debut was palpable from the moment she stepped onto the practice green. Crowds swelled around her, cell phones raised, eager for a glimpse or an autograph. Some fans, especially young girls, skipped school just to catch her first tee shot. One father was overheard reassuring his daughter, “She’s just another girl. She’s just like any other golfer,” but the scene suggested otherwise. No other player in the field drew such immense attention, nor did any have as many fans clad in “TRUMP” caps, shouting encouragement and even references to her famous grandfather.
Kai’s journey to this moment was fast-tracked and, by her own admission, daunting. Ranked 461st in the American Junior Golf Association, she had yet to play at the collegiate level, though she officially signed with the University of Miami during tournament week. Her caddie for the event was close friend Allan Kournikova, the younger brother of tennis star Anna Kournikova. Allan, who has known Kai since childhood, told The Daily Mail, “I'm really excited to see what's ahead, because if she wants to pursue her career in this game, she can play at the highest level in my opinion. As far as talent goes, she's got as much talent as anyone. I think it's raw talent as of now.”
Support for Kai came from multiple directions. Her mother, Vanessa Trump, walked the course with her, blending in among the crowd in sleek black athleisure and a Sun Day Red cap—a nod to her boyfriend Tiger Woods, who also offered Kai advice before the tournament. “He told me to go out there and have fun and just go with the flow. Whatever happens, happens,” Kai said, crediting Woods for helping her manage nerves. Her grandfather, President Donald Trump, kept his advice simple: “Go out there and have fun. Just don’t get nervous.” Annika Sörenstam, too, took Kai under her wing during a practice round, praising her eagerness to learn and her thoughtful approach to improving her swing.
Yet, the pressure was undeniable. University of Miami assistant coach Jim Garren observed, “She’ll never play a more pressure-filled round in her career. Not only her first start but her first pro start and a big-time event. And she’s coming from junior golf straight to that. She hasn't even reached our level yet, so it’ll never get harder for her career.”
On the course, Kai’s performance reflected both her nerves and her resilience. She opened with a challenging 13-over par in the first round, but rallied to shoot 5-over in the second, finishing at 18-over par and missing the cut by six shots. Her score placed her last among the field, but the numbers only tell part of the story. The improvement from round one to round two was a testament to her determination to adapt and compete, even as every swing was scrutinized by fans, media, and critics alike. “Just I learned a lot about my game, what I have to work on, where I have to be,” Kai admitted, reflecting on the experience.
Her playing partners, major winner Hinako Shibuno and Germany’s Olivia Cowan, remained supportive throughout the rounds. “Good birdie,” Shibuno called out after Kai’s first gained shot, and Cowan offered similar encouragement. The crowds, however, were sometimes less disciplined—Cowan’s caddie had to remind fans to stay still and quiet, and Cowan herself voiced frustration when distracted by a phone camera. But the overall atmosphere was one of celebration, with young fans lining up for autographs and chanting support after every shot.
After her second round, Kai took time to sign flags, balls, and hats for her supporters, smiling and chatting with children behind the ropes. Her engagement with fans—many of whom had never attended a women’s golf event before—was exactly the kind of impact tournament organizers had hoped for. “I think any tournament wants buzz,” Sörenstam said. “We want her to feel like family here, and I want her to feel welcome. I mean, give this girl a chance, right?”
Not everyone approved of the exemption that brought Kai to the LPGA stage. Some critics charged that her presence turned the event into a circus, more about fame than fair play. Social media lit up with both support and vitriol, but Kai remained focused on the positives. “I'll try to do that and give it my best shot,” she said of her goal to turn professional. For her and her inner circle, the week was about learning, growing, and inspiring a new generation of golf fans.
As the dust settles on Kai Trump’s whirlwind debut, the LPGA and women’s golf find themselves in the spotlight. The challenge now is to turn that attention into lasting interest, not just for one famous name, but for the sport as a whole. For Kai, the experience may have been overwhelming, but she handled it with poise well beyond her years—and left the door wide open for whatever comes next.
