Public scrutiny and relentless online criticism pushed Paige Spiranac to a breaking point; now, she’s no longer trying to explain herself. 

The golfer-model appeared on the February 19 episode of Dan on Golf , where she reflected on the backlash following the 2025 Internet Invitational and opened up about her experience and public perception.

“People just assume that you are one way or they think that you are this way, and that's just how they always view you. And that's something that I really learned, especially after kind of what happened to me, was I'm done talking about it and I'm done trying to defend myself because I've spent so long.”

While speaking about the reaction to YouTube golf and online content, the 32-year-old said that people often develop strong emotional connections to the game and its creators. 

She explained that because the content feels personal and relatable, viewers become invested and protective, which can shape how they respond to situations and the individuals involved.

To understand her remarks, it is necessary to look at the incident that placed Spiranac at the center of controversy.

The Internet Invitational Controversy related to Paige Spiranac

The controversy involving Spiranac at the Internet Invitational began during the event’s first edition in late 2025 and remained a talking point into early 2026. 

The incident occurred during the final round of the $1 million tournament hosted by Barstool Sports and Bob Does Sports.

During the 3-on-3 match-play finale, Spiranac was seen pressing down fescue grass near her teammate Malosi Togisala’s ball. The move violated Rule 8.1, which does not allow players to change natural conditions that affect a stroke. 

However, host Dave Portnoy allowed the hole to continue, and since her team lost the hole, no penalty was given.

Although the result stayed the same, the reaction shifted online. Spiranac later said she received a lot of online bashing after the broadcast and stepped away from social media for some time. 

In the following weeks, competitor Francis Ellis said Spiranac donated her skins winnings, around $15,000 to $16,000, to the family of Cody “Beef” Franke, a teammate who passed away after the event.

Do you think fans should now move on from this controversy related to her?

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Written by

Aditi Singh

Edited by

Souvik Roy