Kai Trump’s college golf career got off to a rocky start when she suffered a significant injury in her very first tournament.
“I kinda had an injury to my wrist during the tournament, my first college tournament,” the University of Miami student-athlete, 19, shared in a recent vlog.
Kai — who is the daughter of Donald Trump Jr. and his ex-wife Vanessa Trump — revealed that the injury occurred early in the recent Golfweek Fall Challenge when she “hit the ground next to the first cart path.”
“Let’s just say there must have been some cart path underneath that ground because it was very hard. Hit it, it felt like a shock on my arm,” she recalled. “Then on the tenth hole, I hit my driver, and I felt like I tore it again.”
President Donald Trump’s granddaughter clarified that she “didn’t fully tear” her wrist, though she did develop a “little sliver” on the cartilage and ligaments.
In her vlog, Kai confirmed she was treating her injury with “stem cell” injections administered by pain specialist Dr. Jeffrey Wiegers in order to avoid surgery.
The injury seemingly hampered Kai’s overall performance in the Golfweek Fall Challenge, as she tied for 102nd place in a 120-player field. (The tournament was held at Caledonia Golf & Fish Club in Pawleys Island, South Carolina, from September 6 to September 8.)
She is expected back on the links to compete for the Hurricanes at the Ruth’s Chris Tar Heel Invitational from October 16 to October 18 at the UNC Finley Golf Course in Chapel Hill, North Carolina.
Earlier this month, Kai broke down in tears in a YouTube video documenting her move from her mom’s home in Jupiter, Florida, to a two-bedroom apartment in Miami.
“I’ve been, like, literally sobbing,” she explained to viewers. “It’s just really sad that I have to say goodbye to everyone today. I’m not a very emotional person at all, so this is really weird for me to cry. I’m just struggling right now just thinking about it, but I’m excited.”
Kai revealed that she had to make an unexpected trip home in her first week at the University of Miami because she was feeling under the weather.
“I got sick with strep on Wednesday, my first week of school,” Kai recalled. “I came all the way back to Jupiter because I was so sick. I needed my mom to nurse me back to health.”
Kai announced in August 2024 that she’d made a “verbal commitment” to play on the Hurricanes’ women’s golf team. (She graduated from high school last May.)
“I would like to thank my mom, Vanessa, and my dad, Don, for always supporting me through my journey,” she wrote via social media at the time. “I would also like to thank my great team for getting me to this point. I would like to thank my Grandpa for giving me access to great courses and tremendous support. I would also like to thank my Mormor for always believing in me.”
The teenager continued, “I would also like to thank my entire family for always encouraging and pushing me to be the best person I can possibly be. I would like to thank my friends for always cheering me on. Last but not least I would love to thank Coach Janice [Olivencia] and Coach Jim [Garren] for giving me this opportunity. I am super excited to be a cane and represent the University of Miami. Gooo Canes!”
