Photo: Orlando Ramirez/Getty Images
When she’s not posting “GRWM at the White House” vlogs or promoting her new line of crew-neck sweatshirts, Kai Trump is often busy hitting the green. The 18-year-old, who’s the oldest daughter of Donald Trump Jr., is currently a high-school senior in Palm Beach County, but she’s already committed to golf for the University of Miami next year. As she waits for her collegiate chapter to begin, she’s been putting in hours at amateur events courtesy of the American Junior Golf Association. But thanks in part to her proximity to the Trump administration, Kai is set to make her big-leagues debut at the LPGA Tour next month.
Per the AP, Kai received a sponsor exemption on Tuesday, which will allow her to play in the Annika at Pelican Golf Club, the second-to-last event on the LPGA schedule that’s known to be highly competitive. Sponsor exemptions temporarily waive the tournament’s 18-year-old age minimum and are typically granted to young rising golf stars: In 2012, then-15-year-old Lydia Ko won the CPKC Women’s Open as an amateur sponsor exemption and went on to become a LPGA hall-of-famer. Kai currently comes in at No. 461 in the AJGA Girls ranking, but the LPGA’s chief tour business and operations officer, Ricki Lasky, explained in a press release that sponsor invitations also serve to “spotlight emerging talent and bring new attention to our tournaments and the LPGA.” Lasky was apparently most excited by Kai’s “broad following and reach,” which she believes will draw in new and younger fans. That’s one way to put it.
Kai, at least, is amped to test her skills against the pros. “My dream has been to compete with the best in the world on the LPGA Tour,” she said in the LPGA’s release. “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.” Also, she just scored a great backdrop for her next merch photoshoot.
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