It wasn’t the best week for Kai Trump at the Sage Valley Junior Invitational, but despite a rough performance, she found herself climbing the American Junior Golf Association (AJGA) rankings.
The granddaughter of former President Donald Trump took part in the prestigious junior golf tournament, facing stiff competition from some of the most promising young players in the sport.
With spectators donning MAGA caps and secret service agents following closely, Kai struggled on the back nine, dropping 12 shots over seven holes.
Her final tally for the tournament was a staggering 52-over par—almost twice the score of the player closest to her at the bottom of the leaderboard.
A Tough Scorecard but a Ranking Boost
Trump wrapped up the tournament with rounds of 79, 89, and 83, finishing in last place among the 24-player girls’ field.
Despite the setback, there was a silver lining—her AJGA ranking saw a major jump, moving from 815th to 530th.
It was an unexpected boost, considering her struggles throughout the event.
Charlie Woods Also on the Rise
Kai wasn’t the only big name to experience an upward ranking shift.
Charlie Woods, son of golf legend Tiger Woods, also climbed the ranks despite falling short in South Carolina.
Charlie, who has been making headlines alongside his 15-time major-winning father, finished 25th out of 36 players after stumbling in his final five holes.
Still, his performance was enough to see him leap an impressive 235 spots, landing him at 603rd in the AJGA rankings.
A New Romance Making Headlines
While the junior golfers were making moves on the course, their parents were making headlines off it.
Tiger Woods and Kai’s mother, Vanessa Trump, recently went public with their relationship.
On March 23, the golf icon shared pictures of the couple on Instagram and X, including a cozy shot of them relaxing on a hammock.
“Love is in the air and life is better with you by my side! We look forward to our journey through life together.
At this time, we would appreciate privacy for all those close to our hearts,” Woods wrote in the caption.
The post quickly racked up over 327,000 likes, including one from Kai herself.
The announcement also came just ten days after news first broke about the romance between Woods and Donald Trump Jr.’s ex-wife.
Looking Ahead
While Kai Trump’s performance at Sage Valley may not have been her best, her jump in the rankings proves that perseverance in the sport can still yield progress.
With high-profile parents and a competitive drive, both she and Charlie Woods remain names to watch as they continue their junior golf careers.