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President Donald Trump’s granddaughter Kai is at the Pelican Golf Club in Belleair, Fla., making her LPGA debut this week.
The 18-year-old received a sponsorship exemption for The ANNIKA, given to emerging golfers to showcase their talents.
Before her big weekend, Trump said she received advice from none other than Grandpa himself, who kept the advice short and sweet.
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Kai Trump plays a shot before the TGL presented by SoFi match between Jupiter Links Golf Club and Boston Common Golf at SoFi Center on January 27, 2025 in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida. (Megan Briggs/TGL/TGL via Getty Images)
“Go out and have fun. Don’t be nervous,” she said.
Tiger Woods, who is currently dating Trump’s mother Vanessa – Don Jr.’s ex-wife – also gave Trump advice.
“I mean, he’s the best golfer in the whole world. I would say that. And an even better person,” she said. “He told me to go out there, have fun and go with the flow. Whatever happens, happens.”
Trump played a practice round with Annika Sorenstam, the host of the tournament that bears her name, and the LPGA legend had nothing but praise for the youngster.
“I was talking to him about my tendencies and I said, ‘What are your tendencies?’ And she went, “This is what I do and I try to do it.” She really wants to improve and learn more about her swing…” she said via Golf Channel. “Just the excitement of learning and getting better, I thought it was pretty cool. I was trying to remember if I was 18 and if I would play with someone, if I dared to ask a question. I probably would have been super quiet.”
President Donald Trump watches his granddaughter, Kai Trump, play golf at Trump National Doral Miami October 27, 2022 in Miami, Florida, one day before the 2022 LIV Golf Invitational Miami. (GIORGIO VIERA/AFP via Getty Images)
WNBA STAR CAITLIN CLARK RETURNS IN THE GOLF SPOTLIGHT WITH AN APPEARANCE AT ANNIKA LPGA PRO-AM
“Going out there and playing on a big course and in an environment like this, I’m sure she’s used to a lot of people looking at her and analyzing everything,” Sorenstam added. “One thing that’s different this year is I’ve never seen so many Secret Service people here; I feel super safe, that’s another thing. … I just don’t know how she does it honestly. To be 18 and hear all the comments, she must be very tough inside. I’m sure we can all understand what it’s like to be criticized here and there, but she gets them a thousand times over. So, that’s why I just want to give her a break, come here and have fun. We want her to feel like family here, and I want her to feel welcome.
“I mean, give this girl a chance, right?”
Nelly Korda is the reigning champion of The ANNIKA, also winning the event in 2021 and 2022.
Trump has gained popularity on social media, primarily through YouTube, and recently posted a video of her playing with her grandfather at the Trump National Golf Club, in Washington, D.C., and the two attending the Ryder Cup.
“I just don’t consider him to be president. I consider him to be my grandfather. We’re going to go play golf,” Kai said in a recent interview with PK Press Club Digital. “We play golf all the time. It’s nothing new.”
In this interview, Trump reiterated her goal of becoming a professional.
Former President Donald Trump, center, walks with his great Kai Trump and his mother Vanessa Trump during the ProAm before the LIV Golf Team Championship, October 27, 2022, at Trump National Doral Golf Club in Doral, Florida. (Michele Eve Sandberg/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
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“I’m going to try to do it and do my best.”
