Paige Spiranac seriously considered walking away. After a rules violation, accusations of cheating, tens of thousands of death threats, and a week and a half she describes as the worst of her decade-long career, the golf influencer had real doubts about returning to the Internet Invitational.

But she is coming back anyway.

Spiranac confirmed her return on July 22 in a video with Foreplay, Barstool Sports' golf brand, posted to Barstool's X account. She will compete in this year's Internet Invitational, which carries a prize pool that could approach $4 million.

She explained her thinking in the Foreplay video. "I feel like if I didn't say yes, it would be almost like an admission of guilt," she said. "I didn't knowingly do anything."

Francis Ellis, the same man she taunted during last year's final round, reached out and encouraged her to return. "He was like, you need to come back," Spiranac said. "It was also just nice to hear that from him."

In last year's Internet Invitational, co-hosted by Barstool Sports and Bob Does Sports, Spiranac's team reached the final round, playing for $1 million. She was accused of stomping in tall grass to improve her lie, a rules violation similar to what Bryson DeChambeau faced at The Open Championship last week. 

When confronted, she cried. Her biggest regret, she told Foreplay on Wednesday, was taunting Ellis for "not playing competitive golf." She said she regretted it the moment the words left her mouth.

The fallout was severe. "The last week and a half is probably the worst hate I've ever received in the 10 years of me doing this," Spiranac said on her Instagram story, per The Spun. "I'm talking tens of thousands of death threats, people telling me to kill myself. The most vile, horrendous stuff you could ever say to an individual."

Paige Spiranac Shares the behind-the-scenes reality of the Creator Classic

Paige Spiranac also reflected on her experience competing in the Creator Classic, saying the event's behind-the-scenes format made it harder than many people realize.

While the tournament gave fans a closer look at the players, she said it was difficult to balance being herself with staying competitive. 

She acknowledged the behind-the-scenes dynamics of the event are uncomfortable when filmed. 

"Even when we were making picks, I had to sit people down and be like, do you want to play with? Why do you want to be this person? We need to not team up with this person." she said. " It's awkward sometimes. It's behind the scenes. It's like locker room talk that shouldn't be seen to other people, yet millions of people are seeing it."

What do you think about Spiranac's decision to return to the Internet Invitational? Let us know in the comments!

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Written by

Sneha Abraham