Ahead of her LPGA Tour debut this week, Kai Trump has received guidance from some of golf’s biggest names: President of the United States, World Golf Hall of Famer Annika Sorenstam, and 15-time major champion Tiger Woods.
The 18-year-old, who earned a sponsor’s invitation to The Annika Driven by Gainbridge, has faced criticism for her entry into the event.
A high school senior committed to the University of Miami, Trump has had moderate success in local tournaments but commands a massive social media following of nearly nine million. She is also the granddaughter of former President Donald Trump.
Woods, who is dating Trump’s mother, Vanessa, shared his advice ahead of the tournament at Pelican Golf Club in Naples, Florida.
Kai Trump practiced her chipping ahead of her LPGA Tour debut at The Annika Driven by Gainbridge on November 11, 2025, at Pelican Golf Club in Belleair, Florida.
“I mean, he is the best golfer in the entire world. I would say that. And even better person,” Trump said Tuesday of Tiger Woods. “He told me to go out there and have fun and just go with the flow. Whatever happens, happens.”
Trump played nine holes in a pro-am round on Monday with tournament host Annika Sorenstam, who was impressed by the teenager’s passion and poise under intense scrutiny.
“I just don’t know how she does it, honestly,” Sorenstam said. “To be 18 years old and hear all the comments, she must be super tough on the inside. We can all relate to criticism here and there, but she gets it a thousand times.
“That’s why I just want to give her a break, let her come out here and have fun. We want her to feel like family, to feel welcome. Give this girl a chance, right? I think that’s our responsibility this week.”
Trump said she never hesitated when offered a sponsor exemption by Dan Doyle Jr., the owner of Pelican Golf Club. Sorenstam extended an invitation to Wake Forest senior Anne-Sterre den Dunnen, while Gainbridge invited Northwestern All-American Lauryn Nguyen.
Tiger Woods is dating Kai Trump’s mother, Vanessa.
Dan Doyle, CEO of Tampa-based DEX Imaging, has donated to Republican campaign committees and openly acknowledged the attention Trump’s participation is generating for this week’s event.
“The idea of the exemption, when you look at the history of exemptions, is to bring attention to an event,” Doyle said. “You’ve got to see her live. She’s lovely to speak to, and she brought a lot of viewers through Instagram and other platforms who normally don’t watch women’s golf.”
Trump described her ball-striking as her biggest strength but admitted she needs work around the greens. She currently does not have a dedicated coach and struggled at the Junior Invitational, shooting 89-79-83-89 to finish last in a field of 24 golfers.
Still, she has been able to rely on guidance from the President himself.
Kai Trump spoke with the media ahead of her LPGA debut.
“My grandpa pretty much told me to go out there and have fun. Just don’t get nervous. I try my best not to,” Trump said, adding that the President is “pretty good” at golf but declining to reveal whether she has ever beaten him on the course.
Her debut comes during what promises to be a highly watched week, starting with Wednesday’s pro-am, which will feature live coverage of WNBA star Caitlin Clark paired with defending champion and world No. 2 Nelly Korda.
While it will be a longshot for Trump to make the cut, let alone contend over the weekend, Sorenstam hopes fans will focus on the courage she displays competing against the world’s best and the positive attention she brings to women’s golf.
“I don’t think anybody here expects her to be holding the trophy on Sunday,” Sorenstam said. “I spoke to her yesterday and told her to make the most of this week. There will be lessons learned—take them forward and grow.
“Then go out there and do your best. That’s really all she can do, and that’s all anyone would love to see. We’ve offered to help her in different ways. I’m very impressed with her, as are many others here. I want women’s golf to succeed, so we can either do this together or not. I choose the first one.”
