With a sponsor exemption, Kai Trump, granddaughter of Donald Trump, will make her LPGA Tour debut at The ANNIKA in Florida.
In mid-November, the Pelican Golf Club in Belleair, Florida, will host The ANNIKA driven by Gainbridge at Pelican, and 18-year-old Kai Trump will be part of the professional field for the first time. She received one of the coveted sponsor invitations and will compete against some of the top players in women’s golf.
Kai Trump joins elite field at The ANNIKA
Trump is the third player to receive a sponsor exemption for the tournament, which is named after golf legend Annika Sörenstam. With a purse of $3.25 million, The ANNIKA is one of the most prestigious events on the LPGA Tour outside of the Majors. Past champions include big names like Nelly Korda and Lilia Vu, placing Trump in elite company. The LPGA sees her as a promising young talent, both athletically and in terms of media presence. Sponsor exemptions like this aim to support emerging players and attract new audiences. “Kai brings a fresh perspective,” said tournament organizers.
From high school to the LPGA spotlight
Trump is currently a student at the Benjamin School in Palm Beach and has committed to play for the University of Miami starting in fall 2026. She’s been building her golf resume through events on the American Junior Golf Association and the South Florida PGA circuits, including a T3 finish this summer. Off the course, she has launched her own lifestyle and sports brand and boasts over six million followers on social media.
I will be making my LPGA Tour debut in November at The ANNIKA driven by Gainbridge at Pelican! See you November 10-16 – at Pelican Golf Club in Belleair, FL. Visit https://t.co/iUuh3w1b47 @theannikalpga @ANNIKA59 @LPGA for more information. pic.twitter.com/mmqVfMFukD