Teenager Kai Trump heads into LPGA start with advice from Tiger Woods and the president

Kai Trump walks with Tiger Woods at the 2025 Genesis Open at Torrey Pines.Michael Owens

Kai Trump is teeing it up in her first LPGA event this week and undoubtedly got pre-tournament advice from the most unique mentors of any amateur golfer.
The 18-year-old Trump entered into The Annika in Belleaire, Fla., thanks to a sponsor exemption, got advice from her grandfather, President Donald Trump, with whom she’s played golf for years growing up in Florida.

“My grandpa pretty much told me go out there and have fun,” Kai Trump said. “Just don’t get nervous.

“Try my best not to,” she added with a smile.

She also received words of wisdom from Tiger Woods, who is dating her mother, Vanessa Trump, the ex-wife of Donald Trump Jr.

“He is the best golfer in the entire world,” Kai said. “I would say that. And an even better person. He told me to go out there and have fun and just go with the flow. Whatever happens, happens.”

Kai was poised in her news conference and delivered some breaking news from Pelican Golf Club: The president will not be among those in her gallery. There was speculation about a potential appearance by the president, which would’ve created a gargantuan security and logistical challenge for the tour.

“He’s not coming this weekend,” Kai said. “He’s running the world right now, so he’s a little busy. To me, he’s just a normal grandpa. Always has been. I would just say it’s like having a normal grandpa. There is nothing different I would say. It’s pretty cool, obviously, but to me it’s just normal.”

Kai Trump watches her shot on the ninth hole in a pro-am ahead of the 2025 Genesis Invitational.

Orlando Ramirez

There’s nothing normal about the sponsor exemption Kai received. The high school senior is ranked 461st in the AJGA Rolex Junior Rankings, and her scoring average was 83.6 in three AJGA starts this year. It’s not about her golf game, but rather her reach, the name, and other things that earned her this exemption.

There are already numerous stars who will be at the tournament, highlighted by WNBA mega superstar Caitlin Clark—the former Iowa basketball standout and current Indiana Fever guard—who will be playing in the pro-am on Wednesday at the event for the second consecutive year. She brought in droves of people last year who lined the fairways to get a glimpse of her game. She created a huge buzz and wonderful atmosphere. Golf Channel showed the pro-am round live and will do so again on Wednesday.
Tournament organizers are hoping to capitalize on the same fervor with Kai because she has a combined six million followers across her social media platforms. But for the University of Miami commit, the golf will surely be a challenge. She’ll be in the field with the best golfers in world, including fellow Floridian and World No. 2 Nelly Korda.

“Obviously, I think I’m going to learn a lot no matter what happens,” Kai said. “I’m just going to go out there and have fun and see which way it goes. I’m going to take a lot away from it. Obviously, competing with the best players is going to be cool. To be inside the ropes with them playing with them, learning what kind of shots they hit, what do they do on the course. Just looking forward to it and playing with the best.”

Asked about how her golf game compares to her famous grandfather, Kai said, “He’s pretty good. We have some tight matches.”

When asked if she’s beaten him in golf, Kai decided to play that close to the vest.

“I’ll leave that up to you to decide,” she told the reporter. “I don’t know. We play a lot. We have a great time out there. We’re always on the same team as well.”

Before this big stage, likely her most high-profile event was the Junior Invitational at Sage Valley, where she finished in last place by 22 shots with rounds of 89-79-83-89.

“I didn’t play so well, but I think I learned a lot in that tournament not playing well. I learned a lot about my game, what I have to work on, where I have to be,” Kai said. “And I would say that was the biggest one, and that’s really the one I learned the most from in my golf so far.”

Asked to evaluate her golf game, she was thoughtful about the good and the challenges.

“I would say my strengths are definitely ball striking. I’m a great ball striker. I think I need to strike it better around the greens, and I’ve been practicing a lot with that, especially these greens are tough,” Kai said. “You need to have good hands around the greens. I would say that’s a weakness of mine.”
She’ll be a fan of the professional golfers playing alongside her, as well as Clark.

“What Caitlin is doing for women’s basketball is amazing,” she said. “She’s a great role model to many people out there. I’m very lucky that people also look up to me in that way in golf. I’m just trying to grow women’s sports and just try to grow it as much as I possibly can. What Caitlin and Annika are doing, it’s amazing.”

She’ll have a big platform to do that inside the ropes this week as well, armed with some lofty advice.