Kai Trump’s journey to her first LPGA event was a massive story. From the moment she received the invitation, several notable persons, including Tiger Woods, Donald Trump, and the host Annika Sorenstam, shared well-wishes. But through it all, from the emotional high of being selected to the disappointment of missing the cut after Round 2, her strongest and most consistent supporter has been her mother, Vanessa Trump.

After the 18-year-old suffered the heartbreak, the mother was the first to comfort her. “Love you @kaitrumpgolfer So proud of you,” she wrote on her Instagram Story.

But this is not the first time Vanessa has shown such support toward her daughter on Instagram. She previously reposted ANNIKA’s announcement of Kai Trump’s debut on her Instagram Story, writing, “Look forward to watching you ❤️”.

Vanessa, who’s currently dating Tiger Woods, also dedicated a post to her daughter. “I’m so proud of you, Kai! Today is your very first. LPGA event, and I couldn’t be more excited. I’ll be right by your side, cheering you on every step of the way! You’ve got this!” she wrote.

And the message of pride was very important, considering the results on the leaderboard. Kai Trump’s professional debut was a lesson, finishing the tournament in last place at 108th. Trump’s final score was a high 18-over-par, 27 shots behind leader Grace Kim and 17 away from the projected cut line.

In her debut round, Kai finished 13-over-par 83, leaving her at the bottom of the leaderboard. She had nine bogeys and two double-bogeys. The first day was the most difficult, when Kai admitted she was “definitely more nervous” than she expected.

As for the second round, despite a strong start and the tournament’s first birdie on hole No. 3, the University of Miami commit bogeyed No. 8 and 10. No. 11 and No. 12 were then consecutive birdies, while No. 15 was her sole double bogey of the round. Kai then finished on par on No. 18 after adding a bogey on No. 17.

Vanessa’s pride was clearly rooted in Friday’s round when Kai showed amazing resilience after that tough first day. She shot a five-over-par 75 with an impressive eight-stroke improvement. “Yesterday was a little scary,” Kai explained the huge change in her performance. “I think the nerves just got to me.”

Kai also talked about her second round, saying, “When I went out there today I felt very calm and peaceful… That’s why I played better.”

“Things are going to happen. Once it happens, you can’t go back in time and fix it,” she said. “The best thing I could do is move on. Like I told my caddie, Allan [Kournikova], kind of just started laughing. It is what it is. We got that out of the way, so let’s just move on. It was pretty easy to move on after that.”

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The debut is over, but the dream continues

This tough finish has not stopped Kai Trump. Her comments show she is focused on the future, and she views this event as a major lesson. “The whole time, I was nervous without a doubt. But I thought I did pretty good for a first time, being the youngest player in the field. Now I kind of know how it goes,” Trump said. She is ready for the next challenge.

And what about Vanessa’s partner, Tiger Woods? The golf legend has not made a public comment after the cut. However, his advice was key to her preparation. Kai said he gave her guidance before the event. “He[Tiger Woods] told me to go out there and have fun and just go with the flow. Whatever happens, happens,” Kai Trump told the media before her LPGA debut.

But Kai was not the only player to face a tough exit at Pelican Golf Club. The +1 cut line sent several other big names home early. Maja Stark, the 15th-ranked player in the world, missed it. The 2025 major winner finished at a surprising 5-over 145. Lilia Vu, the 2023 champion, had a shocking exit. Vu finished near the bottom with a score of nine-over. And Kai’s playing partner, Hinako Shibuno, also failed to advance. The former major champion finished at six-over.

So what is the next step for the 18-year-old amateur? While no new tournaments are on her schedule, her long-term path is set. Just one day before her LPGA debut, the University of Miami officially announced her national letter of intent. Kai is a high-school senior graduating in 2026 and joins the Miami Hurricanes golf team for the 2026–27 season.