Kai Trump, the granddaughter of US President Donald Trump, has revealed her upcoming debut on the LPGA Tour scheduled for later this year. The prestigious Annika Driven By Gainbridge event will be held at the Pelican Golf Club in Belleair, Florida, during November, marking Kai’s first appearance on the LPGA Tour. This tournament, being one of the final events of the year, offers a platform for emerging golf talents.
Having previously accompanied her grandfather, Donald Trump, at the Ryder Cup in Bethpage Black, New York, where Team Europe secured a 15-13 victory over Team USA, the 18-year-old received a special gift from tournament sponsor Whoop. The prize pool for The Annika stands at $3.25 million (£2.46m), prompting Kai to temporarily pause her studies at the University of Miami to participate in the competition. Kai made her official announcement via social media, expressing her excitement for the upcoming LPGA Tour event.
In her video announcement to over 910,000 followers, Kai shared her enthusiasm for competing at the professional level at The Annika Driven By Gainbridge event. Ranked 979th among junior girls in The Universal Golf Rankings, Kai, the daughter of Donald Trump Jr. and Vanessa Trump, is recognized as a budding star in the sport. Her involvement in the Florida tournament next month signifies a pivotal challenge in her golfing journey.
With a vast social media following exceeding six million, Kai recently ventured into launching an apparel and lifestyle brand aimed at empowering young women in sports. Ricki Lasky, the LPGA’s chief tour business and operations officer, highlighted the significance of sponsor invitations in showcasing emerging talents and attracting fresh interest to the tournaments and the LPGA. The inclusion of young talents like Kai helps introduce golf to varied audiences, particularly engaging younger fans in the sport.
Kai’s previous participation at the Junior Invitational at Sage Valley in March, though finishing last among 24 players, paved the way for her upcoming debut at The Annika event. Noteworthy players like Charley Hull and defending champion Nelly Korda are set to compete in the tournament alongside Kai, promising a challenging and competitive field.
In other news, Sky has announced a discounted Essential TV and Sky Sports bundle for the 2025/26 season, offering members substantial savings and access to over 1,400 live matches across the Premier League, EFL, and more. The upcoming season will feature at least 215 live Premier League games, a significant increase from previous seasons.