The LPGA Tour continues this week with The ANNIKA driven by Gainbridge at Pelican, where Donald Trump’s granddaughter Kai Trump is making her debut.
Pelican Golf Club in Belleair, Florida, plays host to the LPGA Tour event, for which Kai Trump has received one of three sponsor invitations.
Donald Trump is an avid golfer, while his granddaughter Kai is a high school senior who has committed to playing college golf in Miami in 2026.
The 18-year-old, who has amassed a huge social media following, will play with Japan’s Hinako Shibuno and Germany’s Olivia Cowan in round one of the LPGA Tour event.
Kai Trump responds when asked if she’s beaten Donald Trump at golf
Trump has spoken to the media before getting underway, where she was asked how she does against her grandfather in golf.
She said: “He’s pretty good. He’s pretty good. We have some tight matches. Yeah, can’t say much. Yeah, we have some tight matches.”
And when asked if she’s beaten him yet, she replied: “I’ll leave that up to you to decide. I don’t know. We play a lot. We have a great time out there. We’re always on the same team as well.”
The teenager was also asked who she works on her game with, and if the President has offered her any advice for the week.
She replied: “Well, I kind of… I know my game pretty well so I have a few people watch things over. I don’t really work with anyone right now at the moment.
“And my grandpa pretty much told me go out there and have fun. Just don’t get nervous. Try my best not to.”
10-time major winner Annika Sorenstam rates Kai Trump’s level after playing with her
Trump may just get nervous given the star-studded field taking on the tournament this week, which includes Nelly Korda.
The American is no longer the world number one and has yet to win this season, but she has dominated The ANNIKA.
Korda won the tournament in 2021, 2022 and 2024, with her stunning dominance interrupted by Lilia Vu in 2023.
But tournament host Annika Sorenstam wants fun for Trump this week as opposed to the teenager lifting the trophy.
The duo just played together on the Florida course, of which 10-time major winner Sorenstam said: “Yeah, second time I met her but first time I played with her. Hits the ball really high. I think she drove it well.
“You know, as she told me she has to work a little bit on her putting and short game, and she realizes it, especially around these greens. It’s quite the test.
“As far as distance, I don’t think that’s going to be an issue. Obviously this is a big scene for her, big environment and big golf course.
“For her, just kind of getting used to that is going to take time. There is no doubt that she has a passion for the sport.
“We were on the third hole and she started to ask questions about my golf swing and why am I doing that, why are you not looking at the ball.
“I was talking to her about my tendencies and said, what are your tendencies, and she went off and this is what I do and I’m trying to do that.
“Wow, she’s really interested in just getting better and learning about her swing. You know, she was telling me her hip is going this way and everything.
“Okay, I’m just listening. I’m not going to give you any pointers here because it’s a little bit late, just a few days before the event. Just the excitement of learning and getting better. So I thought that was pretty cool.”
There is an increased security presence for the event at Pelican Golf Club, where there is further intrigue given that Caitlin Clark is at the venue.
The basketball star is back for the pro-am for the second year running, and will first play alongside Korda and later sponsor exemption Lauryn Nguyen.
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