Kai Trump receives advice from Tiger Woods after challenging LPGA debut
Kai Trump has received advice from Tiger Woods after suffering a nightmare debut in the LPGA, reports BritPanorama.
The teenage granddaughter of US President Donald Trump concluded The Annika tournament in Florida at the bottom of the leaderboard, recording a score of 18-over-par across two rounds at Pelican Golf Club near Tampa.
Her performance placed her six strokes behind the nearest competitor among 108 participants, highlighting the significant challenges she faced during her first professional golf outing.
Despite her relatively limited competitive experience this year, Trump, 18, gained entry into the tournament through a sponsor’s exemption. She began with a difficult opening round of 83 and failed to make the cut.
Before the tournament, she received guidance from notable figures, including Woods, who is in a relationship with her mother, Vanessa. He advised her to “go out there, have fun, go with the flow,” she recalled. Her grandfather echoed similar sentiments, telling her not to get nervous, although he could not attend the event due to his presidential responsibilities.
The young golfer acknowledged that anxiety impacted her performance, particularly during the first round. “I was definitely more nervous than I expected,” she admitted after the competition. On day one, she struggled considerably under pressure, but reported feeling calmer in the second round, which led to an improved performance.
Despite the disappointing result, Trump found reasons for optimism, noting her ability to match the driving distance of established professionals. “I know I hit it far, but kind of playing with the best players in the world and being literally right there or even outdriving them on some of the holes, it felt pretty good,” she said.
Maintaining perspective, the secondary school student expressed confidence in her development, viewing her game positively as she is only a senior in high school. She managed the experience with humour, stating that she had a great time on the course despite the outcome.
Sport often mirrors life, with its ups and downs; Trump’s debut serves as a reminder of the steep learning curve faced by young athletes taking their first steps into high-stakes environments.
