Kai Trump is poised to make her debut on the LPGA Tour after securing a sponsor’s exemption for The ANNIKA tournament, scheduled for November 10-16 at Pelican Golf Club in Belleair, Florida. A senior at the Benjamin School and a University of Miami golf commit, Trump is already an emerging figure in the golf world, having competed in various junior and amateur tournaments this summer, including the American Junior Golf Association (AJGA) and the Srixon Medalist Tour.
In her high school season, Trump recently kicked off her postseason play at the district tournament in Palm Beach Gardens. Her standout performance over the summer includes a notable third-place finish in July, further solidifying her reputation as a formidable young talent in the sport.
Expressing her excitement about the upcoming tournament, Trump stated, “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 at The ANNIKA driven by Gainbridge at Pelican in November. This event will be an incredible experience. I look forward to meeting and competing against so many of my heroes and mentors in golf as I make my LPGA Tour debut.”
Beyond her athletic achievements, Trump has also made a mark in the business world with the launch of her apparel brand aimed at inspiring young women in sports. With a combined social media following exceeding 6 million across platforms like TikTok, Instagram, YouTube, and X, her influence stretches well beyond the golf course.
Justin Sheehan, Director of Golf and COO at Pelican Golf Club, praised Trump’s passion for the game, stating, “Kai Trump has a tremendous passion for the game and is expanding the sport to broader audiences. She has a bright future at Miami, and we look forward to welcoming her and our entire tournament field to Pelican Golf Club in November.”
The ANNIKA tournament is the second-to-last LPGA competition of the season, hosted by the legendary Annika Sorenstam and sponsored by Gainbridge. This year’s event promises to be exciting, as it will also feature basketball star Caitlin Clark returning for her second straight season. Tournament officials have extended sponsor exemptions to other promising players, including Wake Forest Senior Anne-Sterre den Dunnen and Northwestern All-American Lauryn Nguyen.
Kai Trump’s journey into professional golf is one that many will be watching closely, and her debut could mark the beginning of an impressive career.