Kai Trump’s future coach at the University of Miami made his feelings clear on the 18-year-old’s last-place finish in her LPGA Tour debut at The Annika last week
Kai Trump officially committed to play collegiate golf at the University of Miami last week(Image: Photo by Brian Spurlock/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
The soon-to-be college coach of Kai Trump relieved pressure on the 18-year-old after she finished in last place in her professional debut.
Trump, the granddaughter of United States President Donald Trump, received an exemption to play in LPGA Tour event The Annika last week, where she shot 18-over through two rounds to finish dead last out of 108 players in the field and miss the cut.
Jim Garren, an assistant coach for the University of Miami women’s golf team and Trump’s future coach, shed light on how difficult a task it was for the high school senior to take the course and compete against seasoned professionals.
READ MORE: Kai Trump took Tiger Woods and Donald Trump’s advice to heart in first LPGA Tour eventREAD MORE: Kai Trump makes her feelings on Nelly Korda clear after LPGA Tour star sent strong message
“She’ll never play a more pressure-filled round in her career,” Garren told The Daily Mail. “Not only her first start but her first pro start and a big-time event. And she’s coming from junior golf straight to that.”
“She hasn’t even reached our level yet,” Garren said, referring to college golf. “So it’ll never get harder for her career.”
The high school senior officially committed to play college golf at the University of Miami on the eve of her professional debut, which was contested at Pelican Golf Club in Belleair, Florida.
She signed to play for the Hurricanes some time ago, but due to NCAA regulations, it was not made official until last week.
Kai Trump told reporters the experience of making her LPGA Tour debut was “amazing”(Image: Photo by Brian Spurlock/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images))
Trump, who received advice from the president and Tiger Woods ahead of her LPGA debut, endured a disastrous opening round on Thursday in which she carded a 13-over par 83.
The teenager admitted the experience of playing against professionals was “a little scary” and was able to laugh off her triple-bogey on the fifth hole of her opening round before having a moment of brilliance in Friday’s second round.
Trump shot a much-improved five-over 75 on Friday, but it was not enough to lift her out of the last-place spot she had fallen into. She came in six shots behind 107th-place finisher Benedetta Moresco, and 17 strokes off the cut line.
Despite her underwhelming finish, Trump took plenty of learnings away from the experience.
READ MORE: MAGA supporters flood to golf event to watch ‘lovely’ Kai Trump in dead lastREAD MORE: Kai Trump reveals first thing she will tell grandpa Donald after missing LPGA Tour cut
“I did everything I could possibly have done for this tournament, so I think if you prepare right the nerves can — I mean, they’re always going to be there, right? They can be a little softened. So I would just say that,” Trump said.
The president’s granddaughter added that she was not as nervous in Friday’s round as she was on Thursday, which had a positive impact on her score.
“Yeah, for the first day I was definitely really nervous, I think the nerves just got to me,” Trump said. “When I went out there today I felt very calm and peaceful to be honest with you.
“And, yeah, that’s why I played better.”
