Paige Spiranac found herself in the middle of a rules controversy during the final match of the Internet Invitational, and the moment left the influencer visibly emotional as she tried to defend her character.
(Paige Spiranac/Instagram)
The six-episode tournament — a Barstool Sports and Bob Does Sports production with a $1 million prize — wrapped on Thursday. Spiranac teamed with Frankie Borrelli and Malosi “Mo” Togisala against Brad Dalke, Francis Ellis and Cody “Beef” Franke, the popular creator who tragically passed away at 31 last month.
Paige Spiranac/X
Dalke’s team won the match and split the purse, but the biggest storyline came on the ninth hole.
That’s where Spiranac was accused of improving Togisala’s lie by pressing down grass around his ball, as relayed by Larry Brown Sports. Her team lost the hole anyway, but Ellis still approached her about the concern.
Photo by Matt Sullivan/Getty Images
When he asked whether she had illegally improved the lie, Spiranac said she genuinely believed what she did was within the rules. The conversation rattled her. She broke down in tears, saying she never wanted anyone to think she would cheat at anything — golf included.
That reaction surprised some viewers, especially since Spiranac played professionally before becoming one of the most prominent golf influencers in the world, with more than 4 million Instagram followers.
Photo by Tracy Wilcox/PGA TOUR via Getty Images
Others rushed to her defense, pointing out she was under pressure and trying to help her teammate.
It’s not the first emotional moment she’s had tied to the event. Last week, Spiranac posted a tearful Instagram video explaining she’d been hit with waves of hateful messages and that the negative attention resurfaced a lot of old insecurities.
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She said she’s struggled socially her entire life and felt like the Invitational — at least at first — was a place where she finally fit in.
The event itself has been a success by every metric. But for Spiranac, the lingering controversy and online hostility may overshadow all of it.
