How Tiger Woods gave Kay Trump advice ahead of her first LPGA start

There are zero expectations for Kay Trump this week.

President Donald Trump’s 18-year-old granddaughter has received a sponsor invitation to the Annika Event, the penultimate event of the 2025 LPGA season, and has made her professional tour debut, drawing attention to Pelican Golf Club on Florida’s west coast. Trump is committed to the University of Miami and aspires to play on the LPGA Tour. But she is not ranked in the top 3,000 in the World Amateur Golf Ranking and is ranked 461st in the Rolex AJGA Ranking.

In short, this week will be a huge step forward for Trump. While she won’t be scheduled to compete Thursday against the likes of Nellie Korda, Lexi Thompson and others over the weekend, she will make her LPGA debut at the suggestion of Tiger Woods, who is dating Kay’s mother, Vanessa Trump.

The 15-time Grand Slam champion has said multiple times that he’s never entered a match he didn’t think he could win, but he had a different message for Kai.

“He’s the best golfer in the world,” Kay said of Woods at a news conference on Tuesday. “I’ll say that. Even the nicer guy. He told me to go out and have fun and go with the flow. Whatever happens, happens.”

Trump also heard from LPGA legend and tournament host Annika Sorenstam during a practice round. As Trump and the 10-time major champion circled the Pelicans, Trump got coaching on her bunt game and Sorenstam discussed with Trump how she should spend her week.

“I don’t think anyone here thought she was going to be the one holding the trophy on Sunday,” Sorenstam said. “It’s about opportunities and memories and lessons learned. I talked to her for a while yesterday. You know, make the most of the week. There will be lessons learned. Take them into the future and learn. That’s how we grow. I mean, she is [18]right? I mean, she has a lot of lessons to learn throughout her life, and today – this week is going to be the biggest lesson.

“Hopefully this will inspire her to work harder on her game and get better and start setting some goals. But as far as her success, I mean, I can’t speak for her. Just come out here and absorb it, meet the players, enjoy the atmosphere and the court and maybe make new friends; you know, make memories with your family. And then you just go out and do your best. That’s really all she can do, and I think that’s what everybody wants to see.”

Trump’s invitation was controversial given her skill level and, of course, her last name. But the purpose of a sponsor invitation is to create buzz and excitement, and to attract attention. Think Tony Romo on the Byron Nelson court or tennis pro Mardy Fish on the 3M Open.

To that end, Trump’s involvement has been successful. Annika has received more coverage this week than any non-major LPGA event this season. One could make a good argument that the buzz this week is greater than any tournament this season, except maybe the U.S. Women’s Open at Erin Hills.

All that remains is for Kay Trump to put the tee in the ground on Thursday and enjoy the unexpected opportunities as Woods and Sorenstam advise.

“I think I’m going to learn a lot no matter what happens. I’m just going to go out there and have fun and see how things go,” Trump said. “I’m going to get a lot out of it. Obviously it’s going to be cool to compete against the best. Being inside the ropes with them, playing with them, understanding the types of shots they hit and how they perform on the field.”

Sorenstam hopes everyone watching Kay Trump will do so with an open mind and the same grace she hoped for when she was invited to the PGA Tour’s Colonial Course in 2003 by a sponsor.

“Going out and playing a big course and an environment like this, I’m sure she’s used to a lot of people looking at her and analyzing everything,” Sorenstam said. “…I honestly just don’t know how she does it. At 18 years old, hearing all the comments, she must be pretty tough inside. I’m sure we can all relate to what it’s like to get criticized everywhere, but she’s been through it a thousand times.

“That’s why I want her to take a break and come here and have fun. We want her to feel like family here, and I want her to feel welcome. I mean, give this girl a chance, right?”