Kai Trump, the granddaughter of President Donald Trump and a major contributor to the Miami golf community, will make her LPGA Tour debut in November after receiving a sponsorship exemption from Annika. Tournament officials announced Tuesday that Trump, a senior at Benjamin School in Palm Beach, Fla., has been selected as one of three sponsors to attend the event, which will be held from Nov. 10 to 16 at Pelican Golf Club in Bellaire, Fla., the penultimate stop on the LPGA Tour’s schedule.
Trump, 18, currently competes in junior and amateur tournaments through the United States Junior Golf Association and the South Florida PGA’s Srixon Medalist Tour, highlighted by his third-place finish this summer. She is ranked No. 461 in the AJGA women’s rankings and will join the Hurricanes women’s golf team next fall.
“My dream has always been to compete against the best players in the world on the LPGA Tour, and I am thrilled to be competing at the Gainbridge-led Annica at the Pelican in November,” Trump said in a statement. “This event will be a great experience and I look forward to meeting and competing with many of golf’s heroes and leaders as I make my LPGA Tour debut.”
Trump, the eldest daughter of Donald Trump Jr., has leveraged more than 6 million social media followers across multiple platforms to become one of the hottest young golfers in the amateur world. Off the track, she recently launched an apparel and lifestyle brand aimed at inspiring and supporting young women pursuing athletics.
“Inviting sponsors is an important way to spotlight emerging talent and bring new attention to the tournament and the LPGA,” LPGA Executive Ricky Lasky said in a release. “Kai’s wide fan base and reach is helping us introduce golf to new audiences, especially younger fans. We look forward to watching her take the next step in her journey. We are also proud to work closely with our partners in Tampa Bay who are continuously committed to the advancement of the women’s game as they help elevate and expand the profile of the LPGA.”
ANNIKA, hosted by ten-time major champion Annika Sorenstam, regularly draws one of the strongest fields of the LPGA season. WNBA star Caitlin Clark is also scheduled to return to pro-am play in the tournament on Nov. 12.
Other announced sponsor exclusions include Wake Forest senior Anne Starr Deng Dannen and Northwestern All-American Lauryn Nguyen. Nelly Korda is the defending champion.
