Kai Trump’s LPGA Golf Debut Goes Sideways After Fans Accuse Her of Being Just Like Her Granddad
Kai Trump‘s LPGA debut at The Annika four-day tournament came with instant backlash from critics, accusing her of using her grandad’s privilege to get ahead.
Donald Trump’s eldest granddaughter didn’t just show up to the tournament at The Pelican Club in Florida — she stole the spotlight before even swinging a club. The 18-year-old high school senior, ranked No. 461 by the American Junior Golf Association, finished her opening round on Thursday with a 13-over 83, placing her last by four strokes among the 108 players.
But instead of celebrating her debut, social media erupted with skepticism, with some wondering if her golf talent earned the invite — or if her last name did the heavy lifting.
Kai’s first three holes out of 72 included two bogeys and a double bogey, though she managed to recover slightly with a birdie on the seventh before closing with another double on the ninth. But during a press conference before the four-day event, reporters had questions about her granddad instead.
“How do you do against Gramps in golf?” asked one reporter. She responded, “He’s pretty good… I mean, we have some tight matches, you know. Can’t say much, but yeah, we have some tight matches.
Kai’s answer to the follow-up question, “Have you beat him yet?” yielded an equally vague response. “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,” said Kai.
However, she did reveal Trump’s advice as she heads into the tournament. “‘Go out there, have fun, and just don’t get nervous,’” she recalled. Trump reportedly won’t be watching her debut in person.
“He’s running the world right now, so he’s a little busy,” said Kai. But the commander in chief is just one of several people supporting the athlete; she also has golf legend Tiger Woods on her side.
The 11-time PGA Player of the Year is dating Kai’s mother, Vanessa. The influencer shared, “He is the best golfer in the entire world … and he’s an even better person. So, you know, he told me, ‘Just to go out there and have fun and go with the flow. Whatever happens, happens.’”
Critics, however, do not expect her to deliver an impressive performance. “Yet another grifter of mediocre talent takes the stage,” a naysayer snarked. Grifting allegations are tied to her clothing line that she has promoted in social media posts at the White House.
Another person commented, “Nepo baby. If her last name wasn’t trump, she’d never be playing here.”
“I wonder if she’s going to cheat as often and as badly as president,” said another.
A fourth person wrote, “She did not earn that slot. More than 500 women golfers were better than this entitled little girl.” A fifth individual added that, “Kia didn’t need Trump … Mom is dating Tiger Woods.”
The teenager made headlines when it was announced that she had received a sponsor invitation to The ANNIKA tournament. Chief Tour Business and Operations Officer Ricki Lasky explained the decision to The Associated Press.
🚨 NEW: Trump is asked about Tiger Woods dating Vanessa Trump, Don. Jr’s ex-wife
“I love Tiger and I love Vanessa. Vanessa and Don had a good relationship, they broke up quite a while ago. Tiger called me a few months ago and told me. I’m happy for both. Let them both be happy.” pic.twitter.com/UwEr17E5FV
— Autism Capital 🧩 (@AutismCapital) March 31, 2025
He shared, “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.”
Kai told the press she was introduced to the sport at 2 years old. Next fall, she will mark the start of her collegiate golf career at the University of Miami.
