The advice Tiger Woods gave Kai Trump as she details mom Vanessa’s health update amid cancer battle
credits: image via imago
credits: image via imago
Tiger Woods pulled Kai Trump aside and gave her two words of advice. She remembered them on a red carpet on Wednesday, July 15, right after telling the world her mother is finally doing better.
Kai, the 19-year-old, spoke exclusively to Page Six on July 15, 2026, at the 2026 ESPY Awards at Lincoln Center in New York City.
The granddaughter of President Donald J. Trump revealed the advice Woods has passed along to her as she pursues collegiate golf at the University of Miami this fall.
"Be yourself, trust the process," Kai said, Woods told her, per Page Six.
BELLEAIR, FL - NOVEMBER 11: University of Miami commit and sponsor exemption Kai Trump speaks at a press conference, PK, Pressekonferenz before making her LPGA, Golf Damen Tour debut at The Annika driven by Cambridge at Pelican on November 11, 2025, at the Pelican Golf Club in Belleair, Florida. Photo by Brian Spurlock/Icon Sportswire GOLF: NOV 11 LPGA The ANNIKA EDITORIAL USE ONLY Icon25111116
BELLEAIR, FL - NOVEMBER 11: University of Miami commit and sponsor exemption Kai Trump speaks at a press conference, PK, Pressekonferenz before making her LPGA, Golf Damen Tour debut at The Annika driven by Cambridge at Pelican on November 11, 2025, at the Pelican Golf Club in Belleair, Florida. Photo by Brian Spurlock/Icon Sportswire GOLF: NOV 11 LPGA The ANNIKA EDITORIAL USE ONLY Icon25111116
The advice lands with some weight. Kai is not just any young golfer picking up tips. She is heading into Division I collegiate golf this fall.
This is not the first time Woods has offered Kai guidance. Ahead of her LPGA debut at The Annika in Florida in November 2025, Woods told her, "Go out there and have fun and just go with the flow. Whatever happens, happens," per Fox News Digital.
Kai described him at the time as "the best golfer in the entire world, and even better person." A People source confirmed in April 2026 that Woods has "fully integrated" into the family and is "especially close" with Kai, calling them "very close as a family."
Her grandfather offered his own take on the game. "Enjoy every moment of it," Kai said. President Trump tells her. "It's going to be rocky, but enjoy every moment of it."
The ESPY Awards appearance also brought a health update on Vanessa. She had announced her breast cancer diagnosis in May via Instagram.
Kai was upbeat. "My mom's doing good," she told Page Six. "She's doing better."
Vanessa had surgery last month and said she had started the second stage of her treatment. According to Page Six, Woods and Vanessa started dating in early 2025.
Woods and Vanessa became even closer as a family during her treatment.
Tiger Woods has stayed close to the family throughout Vanessa’s cancer treatment
A Page Six source said Woods has been supporting Vanessa since she was diagnosed.
"He's proud of how positive she's stayed and how she's handling everything so far," the source said, per a Page Six insider. "She's been so strong, and he truly believes she's going to be OK. He's just trying to support her however he can right now."
Vanessa shares five children with her ex-husband, Donald Trump Jr.: Kai, 19; Donald, 17; Tristan, 14; Spencer, 13; and Chloe, 11.
Kai said Vanessa had been all smiles in recent weeks, including a shopping trip together in West Palm Beach, Florida.
Kai appeared at the ESPYs in a gold dress as found in her post on Instagram, relaxed and optimistic about both her mother's recovery and her own upcoming chapter in collegiate golf.
Do you think Tiger Woods' mentorship will help Kai Trump develop into a top collegiate golfer? Let us know in the comments.
Read more at Club Golf.
Written by
Sneha Abraham
Edited by
Soheli Tarafdar