Kai Trump, Granddaughter of Donald Trump, to Make LPGA Tour Debut
Kai Trump, the 18-year-old granddaughter of President Donald Trump, has received a sponsor invitation to compete in The ANNIKA, marking her first appearance on the LPGA Tour.
The tournament, scheduled for November 13-16 at the Pelican Golf Club in Belleair, Florida, boasts a $3.25 million purse and will feature 108 players, including prominent golfers like Nelly Korda and Lilia Vu. Trump, a senior at The Benjamin School in Palm Beach and a University of Miami commit for 2026, expressed her excitement, stating, “My dream has been to compete with the best in the world on the LPGA Tour, and I am thrilled to be able to compete… I look forward meeting and competing against so many of my heroes and mentors in golf.” This invitation highlights a growing trend of leveraging social media influence to broaden the appeal of professional golf.
Pelican Golf Club extended the invitation partly due to Trump’s significant online presence, with over 2.5 million followers on Instagram and 1.3 million subscribers on YouTube. “Kai Trump has a tremendous passion for the game and is expanding the sport to broader audiences,” said Justin Sheehan, Pelican Golf Club’s Director of Golf and COO. She signed an endorsement deal with TaylorMade earlier this year and attended the 2025 Ryder Cup with her grandfather in September. Other sponsor invitations were also awarded to Anne-Sterre den Dunnen of Wake Forest and Northwestern All-American Lauryn Nguyen. For more information on the LPGA Tour, visit the official LPGA website.
Indiana Fever superstar Caitlin Clark is also scheduled to participate in The ANNIKA’s pro-am event on November 12, returning after a successful appearance last year alongside Korda and Annika Sorenstam. “I had an amazing time at The ANNIKA last November,” Clark said in a statement, adding she is “honored to be an ambassador” for Gainbridge. Tournament officials anticipate a strong turnout and look forward to welcoming all participants to the Pelican Golf Club next month.
