President trump and caitlin clark holding golf trophy
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Executive summary
Caitlin Clark and Kai Trump both appeared at The ANNIKA LPGA event in November 2025 — Clark in the pro-am and Kai Trump via a sponsor’s exemption in the main event — sparking crossover attention and talk of other golf appearances, including Dave Portnoy’s claim they’ve “said yes” to a sequel Internet Invitational with a reported up-to-$10 million prize (examples: Clark at the pro-am; Portnoy’s remarks) [1] [2]. Coverage shows the pairing generated major publicity for the LPGA but also raised questions about competitive fit and motives behind such high-profile invitations [3] [4].
1. Star power meets golf: why Clark and Kai drew headlines
Caitlin Clark’s return to The ANNIKA pro-am and Kai Trump’s LPGA debut were framed by outlets as a deliberate publicity boost: Clark brings mainstream WNBA star appeal and social-media reach, while Kai Trump’s presence — as the president’s granddaughter and a sponsor invitee — created additional buzz and TV interest for the Pelican Golf Club event [1] [5] [4].
2. What actually happened on the course
Reporting describes Clark playing in the pro-am portion (paired with LPGA names) and generating large crowds and social-media moments; Kai Trump competed in the LPGA field on a sponsor’s exemption, struggled in her opening round (13-over 83) and missed the cut, illustrating the gap between publicity and elite performance [1] [3].
3. The Internet Invitational claim: what sources say and don’t say
Barstool founder Dave Portnoy said on his show that Caitlin Clark and Kai Trump have “said yes” to participating in a planned Internet Invitational sequel — and that prize-pool talk could reach $10 million — but Portnoy himself was cautious, noting “I don’t know how serious the yesses are,” and media stories repeat his claim rather than independently confirming contracts or firm commitments [2] [6]. Available sources do not mention signed deals or formal confirmations from Clark’s or Trump’s representatives beyond Portnoy’s statements [2].
4. How outlets framed the pairing — promotion vs. athletic merit
Some coverage celebrated the crossover as a win for visibility and women’s sports: Annika Sorenstam and LPGA figures welcomed the spotlight [3]. Other reporting — including local and trade outlets — framed the pairings as promotional moves designed to drive eyeballs and ticket sales, asking whether such celebrity-driven attention is a sustainable strategy for the tour [4] [3].
5. Competing viewpoints in the reporting
Positive takes highlight the benefit of mainstream exposure to women’s golf and charitable/community elements at The ANNIKA [4]. Critical strands emphasize the transient nature of the buzz and the challenge of translating celebrity appearances into long-term growth for the LPGA — and note that Trump’s performance underscored that media attention doesn’t equal competitive parity [3] [4].
6. What the records show about results and context
Tournament coverage documents Linn Grant hoisting the ANNIKA championship trophy on Nov. 16, showing that competitive outcomes remained driven by tour pros; Clark’s role was pro-am visibility and Kai Trump’s LPGA results were modest, reinforcing that the event’s athletic integrity stayed intact even as celebrity names drew attention [4] [7].
7. Why the $10M figure matters — and why to be cautious
Multiple outlets repeated Portnoy’s $10 million prize-pool suggestion as part of his pitch for the Internet Invitational sequel, which would be an outsized sum for a non-major golf event and therefore newsworthy if verified; but Portnoy’s own caveats and the absence of independent confirmation in reporting mean readers should treat the number as aspirational or tentative, not a signed guarantee [2] [6].
8. Takeaway for readers: separating publicity, performance, and proof
The available reporting establishes that Caitlin Clark and Kai Trump shared the same LPGA event week — generating measurable attention — and that Dave Portnoy publicly claimed tentative “yeses” for a future paid invitational; however, the sources do not show formal contracts or confirmed prize-pool commitments, and they document both positive publicity effects and legitimate questions about whether celebrity appearances translate into sustainable tour growth [1] [2] [3].
Limitations: this analysis relies solely on the provided reporting and direct quotes; available sources do not mention signed agreements for the Internet Invitational nor independent confirmations from Clark’s or Kai Trump’s teams beyond the statements cited [2].