By TIM REYNOLDS, AP Sports activities Author
CORAL GABLES, Fla. (AP) — Kai Trump knew greater than a yr in the past that she wished to go to the College of Miami and play golf for the Hurricanes.
And the granddaughter of President Donald Trump by no means modified her thoughts.
Miami introduced that Kai Trump is a part of its ladies’s golf signing class on Wednesday, the primary day of the NCAA Division I signing window for many sports activities. She crammed out the letter of intent final week in a ceremony at her highschool — not removed from her grandfather’s Mar-a-Lago property in West Palm Seashore — however Miami couldn’t acknowledge her signing and even her dedication till now due to the NCAA rule relating to signing dates.
How she’ll fare in faculty is anybody’s guess. However this a lot is definite: Miami golf is about to be getting an entire lot extra consideration.
“We view any potential publicity as optimistic for Miami golf,” Hurricanes coach Janice Olivencia stated. “Our present group is a really mature and clever group of ladies. So, we anticipate that we are going to deal with all the eye with nice composure and enthusiasm.”
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Kai Trump, the granddaughter of President Donald Trump, speaks throughout a press convention for The Annika LPGA golf event, Tuesday, Nov. 11, 2025, in Belleair, Fla.. (AP Photograph/Rob Maaddi)
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Kai Trump, the granddaughter of President Donald Trump, speaks throughout a press convention for The Annika LPGA golf event, Tuesday, Nov. 11, 2025, in Belleair, Fla.. (AP Photograph/Rob Maaddi)
Kai Trump was a part of a three-player recruiting class for the Hurricanes, who additionally signed Bella Dovhey from Orlando and Carlee Rogers from Tennessee. Olivencia stated Dovhey “goes to carry the entire bundle” to the Hurricanes and that Rogers — one of many high juniors in her state — “will come to Coral Gables with a championship pedigree and a powerful report towards a few of the most elite junior opponents.”
Kai Trump, the daughter of Donald Trump Jr., dedicated to Miami in August 2024. She’s making her LPGA debut this week in The Annika at Pelican Golf Membership, explaining in a information convention there Tuesday why Miami was her choose.
“I really like the coaches. It’s near dwelling. Nice faculty,” Kai Trump stated. “I really like the individuals there. My cousins went there as properly, so I do know people who have gone there. , it’s a fantastic college and I’m trying ahead taking part in for them.”
Kai Trump is scheduled to tee off at The Annika on Thursday at 12:32 p.m. Japanese, taking part in alongside Hinako Shibuno of Japan and Olivia Cowan of Germany.
The eldest granddaughter of the president is an influencer on social media; her behind-the-scenes video from election night time has greater than 5.1 million views on YouTube, and her video from going to the Ryder Cup together with her grandfather has been considered about 2 million instances on YouTube alone. And sure, she performs golf together with her grandfather, whose affinity for the sport isn’t any secret.
“We play so much,” Kai Trump stated. “Now we have a good time on the market.”
Her LPGA debut comes this week courtesy of a sponsor’s exemption. Match host and Corridor of Famer Annika Sorenstam performed with Kai Trump earlier this week and stated she was impressed by the 17-year-old’s skill to ask questions.
“I simply don’t understand how she does it, truthfully,” Sorenstam stated. “To be 17 years previous and listen to all of the feedback, she have to be tremendous powerful on the within. I’m positive we will all relate what it’s prefer to get criticism right here and there, however she will get it a thousand instances.”
Kai Trump is open about her strengths and weaknesses in relation to the sport. She’s a giant hitter; even Sorenstam was impressed together with her size off the tee. The quick recreation — having the ability to rating across the inexperienced — is a piece in progress.
“Kai will carry large vitality and pleasure to Miami,” Olivencia stated. “She’s a multisport athlete with a robust aggressive spirit and a real love for the sport of golf. Kai could be very dedicated to her development, each as a participant and an individual. And her emphasis on growth will proceed to steer her to new heights.”
The college hasn’t revealed a lot relating to what it’ll be prefer to have the president’s granddaughter on campus, however the Hurricanes are hoping that Kai Trump’s faculty expertise will probably be as regular as potential.
“Our group could be very welcoming,” Olivencia stated. “They belief in us to proceed to ask gamers to this system that may contribute in their very own method, to lift the extent of this group. Along with that, we’re very lucky at Miami to have a plethora of assets and nice assist techniques. This class will definitely have the entry our present scholar athletes have at The U from the minute they get on campus.”
