Copyright mirror
Kai Trump, the granddaughter of US President Donald Trump, has announced that she will be making her debut on the LPGA Tour later this year. The Annika Driven By Gainbridge will take place at Pelican Golf Club in Belleair, Florida in November, and will also see Kai make her debut on the LPGA Tour. The event also marks the penultimate event on the tour of the year and will present on an opportunity for one of golfs rising stars. Kai accompanied her grandfather, Donald , at the Ryder Cup at Bethpage Black, New York, back in September, where Team Europe claimed a 15-13 win over Team USA. The 18-year-old was also handed a customised gift from Whoop by one of the tournament's sponsors, which is typically only handed out to Team USA players and staff and Whoop employees. The Annika has a total prize fund worth $3.25million (£2.46m), with Kai taking a break from her studies at the University of Miami to compete. In a post on social media on Tuesday, Kai announced that she will be competing in her first-ever LPGA Tour event next month. "What's up guys, I am thrilled to announce that I will be making my LPGA Tour debut in November at The Annika Driven By Gainbridge," Kai said in a video posted on X to her 910,000 followers on the platform. "The Annika is at the Pelican Golf Club. It has been a dream of mine to compete at the professional level and I'd like to thank the Pelican Golf Club for the invitation. "I'm looking forward to teeing it up and competing with the best players in the world at one of the most premier venues on tour. I will see you guys Nov. 10-16 at the Pelican Golf Club in Belleair, Florida. I'll see you guys there." Kai is the daughter of Donald Trump Jr . and Vanessa Trump, as well as an amateur golfer, and is one of the sports rising stars. The teenager is ranked 979th on the The Universal Golf Rankings among junior girls, and the event in Florida in November will represent one of the most difficult challenges of her golf career so far. The teenager has more than six -million followers across social media and recently started an apparel and lifestyle brand aimed at young women in sports. “Sponsor invitations are an important way to spotlight emerging talent and bring new attention to our tournaments and the LPGA,” said Ricki Lasky, the chief tour business and operations officer at the LPGA. “Kai’s broad following and reach are helping introduce golf to new audiences, especially among younger fans. We’re excited to see her take this next step in her journey.” Back in March, Kai competed at the Junior Invitational at Sage Valley, where she finished last in a field of 24 players. The Annika will see some of the world's best golfers compete, including Charley Hull and 2024 Chevron Championship winner, as well as defending champion, Nelly Korda.
