Paige Spiranac is catching heat from fans after they accused her of breaking a rule during the latest episode of the Internet Invitational, a six-part competition featuring 48 golfers in 24 teams.
A clip shared by Barstool Sports on X showed Spiranac moving ahead of her ball and pressing down long grass to improve her lie. When confronted, she said she didn’t realize it was against the rules — and then became emotional.
Once the video circulated, viewers didn’t hold back. One fan said she was using tears as a way to dodge responsibility, while another insisted she had “definitely cheated.” Some commenters even mocked the situation, saying her actions clearly violated the rules and calling out both her and her teammate Mo.
Before joining the Internet Invitational, Spiranac took part in the Creator Classic series, working as an on-course analyst for two events and competing in one.
Paige Spiranac responds after facing online hate
Spiranac has often dealt with criticism, especially regarding her outfits, but a recent harsh comment hit her harder than usual. After a fan used vulgar language and accused her of acting superior at the Invitational, she addressed the situation on Instagram.
She explained that building her platform took real effort and wasn’t as effortless as some assume. She also said getting invited to the Invitational made her feel accepted in the golf content community. Opening up further, she shared that she has struggled socially for most of her life — making friends, reading social cues, and fitting into large groups.
Spiranac said she was genuinely excited about the event and put a lot of preparation into helping her team, so seeing negative reactions left her discouraged.
Spiranac previously played professionally on the Cactus Tour in 2016 but failed to qualify for the LPGA Tour. She later left competitive golf to pursue content creation full-time and now has around 4 million Instagram followers.
“Crying is such a cop out” – Fans call out Paige Spiranac for ‘ch£@ting’ at the Internet Invitational
