Golf influencer Paige Spiranac has addressed the wave of online abuse she received after a rules violation during Barstool Sports’ Internet Invitational, a competition featuring online golf creators and social media personalities.
The controversy began when Spiranac was caught on camera pressing down long grass in front of her playing partner Malosi Togisala’s ball—an action immediately flagged by other competitors during the event.
Her reaction and explanation, as well as the aftermath, later became a central storyline when the tournament aired across six episodes in October.
Paige Spiranac
Instagram / @_paige.renee
“The Worst Hate I’ve Ever Received”
After stepping away from social media, Spiranac returned on Tuesday with a series of Instagram Stories outlining the scale of the harassment she’s endured.
She said the backlash escalated into extreme territory:
Tens of thousands of death threats
Messages urging her to harm herself
Discussions about needing a restraining order due to safety concerns
“This is probably the worst hate I’ve gotten in ten years of doing this,” she said. “It’s been serious, and it hasn’t been easy.”
Spiranac explained that she pulled back from her millions of followers to protect her mental health, noting that she struggles with the fear of being disliked and often tries to avoid disappointing others.
She highlighted the importance of her support system—family, close friends, and stepping away—to cope with the situation.
Paige Spiranac
Instagram / @_paige.renee
Her Reaction During the Event
When confronted during the match, Spiranac said she immediately felt humiliated, insisting she had no idea she was breaking a rule.
“I am painfully embarrassed that I didn’t know this,” she said. “I would never intentionally cheat. In all my years playing golf, I’ve never been accused of cheating.”
She emphasized the absurdity of intentionally violating rules with “so many cameras and so many people watching,” adding that she learned from the mistake and won’t repeat it.
Tournament Outcome
In the end, Spiranac’s team lost on the 18th hole—compounded by a separate cheating incident involving Togisala.
The entire event had been recorded over the summer before its release in the fall.
