Kai Trump, granddaughter of former President Donald Trump, has had a tough start to her journey in elite tournament golf.
At just 17 years old, Kai is already considered a promising golf prodigy, competing at Sage Valley in South Carolina.
However, her debut at this prestigious event has been far from the smooth ride many might have expected.
After two rounds, she finds herself a staggering 29 shots behind the leader, far from the top of the leaderboard.
A Difficult First Round with Major Setbacks
Kai’s first round on Wednesday was filled with frustration.
She dropped a jaw-dropping 17 shots across 13 holes, putting her in a very difficult position going into the second round.
The stormy skies on Thursday did not offer much hope, but Kai’s determination was evident.
Despite the gloomy conditions, she came out strong with a birdie on the 10th hole.
However, the rain quickly started to pour, and the bogeys began to add up.
At the 17th hole, Kai’s approach shot found its way into the green-side pond, costing her a penalty and leading to a double bogey.
That was followed by two more dropped shots, and by the time she reached the turn, Kai had accumulated five-over par.
Weather and Mistakes Keep Piling Up
Despite starting the second half of her round with two early birdies, Kai’s performance took another hit with a double bogey and a second double bogey finish.
She ended the day seven-over for the round, bringing her to a total of 24-over for the tournament.
Yet, through it all, Kai kept her composure in a way few people her age could.
While most teenagers might have let frustration get the better of them, Kai remained calm and collected.
Throughout the round, she continued to laugh off her mistakes, chatting with her playing partner Sofia Cherif Essakali under umbrellas during the rain.
Even after another missed putt, Kai was heard telling the group’s marker, “It is what it is, who cares?”
Poise and Sportsmanship Despite the Struggles
As the tournament progressed, Kai continued to drift further away from the leaders, with Thailand’s Pimpisa Rubrong leading the pack.
But despite the heavy scorecard, she maintained an admirable level of sportsmanship and grace.
It’s rare to see someone so young handle such pressure with such poise, especially under the harsh conditions of the tournament.
As she made her way up to the clubhouse, Kai didn’t have anyone to console her.
Her family wasn’t there to offer a shoulder to lean on—just last week, it was revealed that her mother, Vanessa, had been quietly dating Tiger Woods’ ex-wife, Elin, since Thanksgiving.
Charlie Woods, who is also competing in the junior competition, has struggled in the tournament as well, but neither of their parents appeared to be present for the event.
Alone in Her Struggles at the Tournament
The absence of Kai’s family and fans was stark