Ex Pro Golfer Paige Spiranac Breaks Silence On Shocking Allegations
Instagram | Paige Spiranac
32-year-old influencer and former pro golfer Paige Spiranac is speaking candidly about the darker side of her rise in the golf world, including the painful rumors and judgment she faced during her early professional career.
Advertisement
Some of those rumors accused Paige Spiranac of performing 'favors' to advance in the sport.
Paige Spiranac Opens Up About Rumors And Judgment In Golf Career
ZUMAPRESS.com / MEGA
Speaking on the "Quiet Please!" podcast with hosts Mel Reid and Kira Dixon, the golf influencer opened up about her painful memories from the tournament, which she now refers to as 'like the worst moment of my life.'
Spiranac, who graduated from San Diego State and turned pro in August 2015, had garnered attention for her social media presence, specifically, her posts featuring bold golf outfits. That viral attention translated into an invitation to play in the Dubai Ladies Masters, a high-profile Ladies European Tour (LET) event.
Advertisement
However, according to Spiranac, not everyone believed she belonged there. 'Due to her social media popularity, many believed she got an invitation to the prestigious Dubai Ladies Masters despite it being above her level of play," she shared of people's opinions at the time.
'I ended up going viral and this was back when people weren't going viral all the time and I didn't know how to handle it and my whole life got flipped upside down. I went from having 500 followers to 100,000 followers," Spiranac added.
Spiranac Thought Her Pro Debut Would Be 'Low-Key'
Instagram | Paige Spiranac
What was meant to be a low-pressure opportunity turned into something far more intense.
Advertisement
'I got this invite to play an LET. I had just turned pro, I had never played golf outside the country. And everyone was like, 'It's low key, don't worry about it," the former gold player added. "No one is going to know if you play well or not.''
That couldn't have been further from the truth. Spiranac said she was immediately thrust into the spotlight, explaining, 'I show up and was doing hours of press, which I wasn't prepared for. I had no training to do this.'
Paige Spiranac Says Pro Golf Debut Turned Brutal
Instagram | Paige Spiranac
The real hardship, she explained, came from how she was treated by other female players.
Advertisement
'I would say there were a couple of girls who were really supportive and who were nice, but the majority, it was brutal," she continued. "I would go on the range and girls would just scatter. No one wanted to hit next to me.'
Even more troubling were the rumors that followed her. 'There were constant comments like 'I did sexual favors to get this invite,' and I was listening to it, and they would say [it] within earshot of me," she recalled. "It was tough.'
Spiranac Opens Up About Missing The Cut And Making Waves
Instagram | Paige Spiranac
Her on-course performance only added fuel to the fire. Spiranac shot rounds of 77 and 79 and missed the cut.
Advertisement
'Not knowing what I was doing, it was my first pro event, it was really difficult," she explained on the podcast. "I just wanted to be liked and I played so bad. It was horrendous.'
She later acknowledged the optics of her presence at the tournament and how it may have affected her peers. 'You work your a-- off, week in and week out… and here comes me and I just walk on in,' she said. 'I got the new Callaway bag and I had Lululemon that week. I can see why it ruffled some feathers.'
Despite the backlash, Spiranac transformed her viral moment into a wildly successful influencer career. With over 4 million followers on Instagram and 1.6 million on TikTok, she's become one of the most recognizable figures in golf media.
Paige Spiranac Recalls Breakdown After Going Viral
Instagram | Paige Spiranac
This isn't the first time Spiranac has opened up about the emotional toll of those early years.
Advertisement
In a 2018 interview with Sports Illustrated, she revealed the extent of her distress at the time. 'I was sitting in the bathroom just balling and was like, 'I don't want to go through this pain, this feel of helplessness. Being alone. Scared,'' she said of her emotional breakdown before the 2015 tournament.
Now known as the 'OG Insta Golf Girl,' Spiranac continues to speak out about the challenges she's faced navigating fame, scrutiny, and the sport she loves. She was also recently featured again as a 'legend' in the magazine's 60th anniversary issue in May 2024.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
New York Post
18 hours ago
- New York Post
Watch the scary moment Katy Perry gets ambushed, startled by rogue fan on stage
The one that got away. Katy Perry was ambushed by a rogue fan who found his way onto the stage during her 'Lifetimes' tour this week. The scary incident occurred on Monday night as the 40-year-old singer was performing her hit song 'Hot N Cold' during a concert in Sydney, Australia. 6 Katy Perry was ambushed by a rogue fan who found his way onto the stage during her 'Lifetimes' tour this week. James Gourley/Publishd/Shutterstock 6 The scary incident occurred on Monday night as Perry was performing 'Hot N Cold' in Sydney, Australia. Justin Paludipan / MEGA Perry appeared visibly shaken during the startling encounter, and she quickly grabbed her guitar and spun away from the stage crasher immediately after he put his arm around her shoulders. 'Well, there's never going to be another show like it, so just enjoy it, Sydney,' Perry said into the microphone as the dancing fan was grabbed by security, per a video of the incident shared to X. 'What the hell is going on?!' the 'Last Friday Night (T.G.I.F.)' singer then shouted as the interloper was finally escorted off the stage. Although Perry kept her cool during the incident and continued her performance without a hitch, fans of the pop star rushed to social media to express their shock regarding the 'very dangerous' incident. 'A very dangerous moment,' one person tweeted. 'Security to be fired, especially the one who was supposed to guard the entrance to the stage. Katy's bodyguard was the first. This could have ended really badly!' 'Why did he think that would be a good idea to assault an artist like that?' commented another fan. 'Katy Perry took it in a professional way, thank god she is ok.' 6 'What the hell is going on?!' Perry shouted during the startling incident. Getty Images 'Katy handled that like a pro – chaos on stage, and she still kept it cool,' added a third. 'Iconic energy. Now that's how you own the moment.' However, other viewers claimed that the incident was 'staged.' 'Staged,' one skeptical person tweeted. 'So she can go viral.' 6 Fans of the pop star rushed to social media to express their shock regarding the 'very dangerous' incident. Justin Paludipan / MEGA 'Honestly, this looks staged,' added a second person. 'And I hope it is because if it's real, that's seriously worrying.' The Post has reached out to Perry's rep for comment. Meanwhile, that wouldn't be the first time that the 'Firework' hitmaker suffered a startling mishap mid-concert. On May 17, during a show in Las Vegas, Perry's bejeweled bra almost popped completely off during her performance of 'Part of Me.' 6 Perry's bejeweled bra almost popped completely off during her performance of 'Part of Me' in Las Vegas last month. Justin Paludipan / 'Oh s–t,' Perry said into the microphone during the wardrobe malfunction, 'my bra is gonna come off.' 'Put my bra back on, Patrick,' she joked after calling over one of her assistants. 'Sorry, guys, you didn't pay that much.' Shortly before her wardrobe malfunction, the 'I Kissed a Girl' songstress 'scolded' a fan for messaging her husband, Orlando Bloom. 6 The 'Firework' singer jokingly 'scolded' a fan for messaging her husband, Orlando Bloom, during her concert in Las Vegas on May 17. James Gourley/Publishd/Shutterstock 'I know why you're here,' she began. 'Listen, if you keep DM-ing my man… you've been doing it for months, ever since the residency. You didn't come to see me play.' 'If you keep on DM-ing my man, I'm gonna have you removed,' Perry continued. 'Seriously, get your own life. I'm his wife. I don't want it. I'm his.' 'He don't want you, Kyle. I'm his wife,' she added. 'I'm his, he's mine… stay the f–k away!' It was later revealed that Perry's shocking remarks were scripted and part of the transition into her next song, the 2024 single 'I'm His, He's Mine.'
New York Post
3 days ago
- New York Post
The Post tests Sydney Sweeney's soap made with her bathwater
They were soaked in Sydney. Not the city in Australia, the actress. Sydney Sweeney released a sultry soap made with her used bathwater — and The Post managed to scoop up two samples before the 5,000 bars sold out in less than a minute online Friday. Advertisement The 27-year-old Emmy-nominated star teamed up with the 'natural manly soap' brand Dr. Squatch to create Sydney's Bathwater Bliss. Here's what our 'judges' had to say about the $8 bars: 4 'When your fans start asking for your bathwater, you can either ignore it, or turn it into a bar of Dr. Squatch soap,' Sydney Sweeney said in a news release. Dr Squatch/MEGA Advertisement 'For starters, it is the worst tasting celebrity bathwater-based product I've ever tried,' Post reporter Chris Harris quipped. 'Sadly, it is also the closest I am ever going to get to Sydney's bathtub,' he added. The regular Squatch soap user said he 'thoroughly enjoyed' the soap, which contains exfoliating sand and is infused with notes of pine, Douglas fir and moss. 'Though, it makes me wonder how much of Sydney's bathwater was actually used in making the soap. I hope not too much, as it is a very manly scent,' he said. Advertisement Post features editor Andrew Court also lathered up with it — but would have preferred if it contained the bathwater of Sweeney's 'Euphoria' co-star. 'As a gay man, I'm not exactly the target market for Sydney's Bathwater Bliss. Personally, I'd prefer Jacob Elordi's bathwater,' he said. 4 Andrew Court gave the soap a thumbs up. New York Post However, his straight 32-year-old roommate was elated. Advertisement 'His eyes lit up. 'Is that the Sydney Sweeney soap? I thought it was sold out. How'd you get that?' 'It was as if I'd struck gold,' Court said. 'I've never seen a man so enthused about a personal hygiene product in my entire life.' 4 To create Sydney's Bathwater Bliss, the actress teamed up with the brand Dr. Squatch, which only made 5,000 bars. Dr Squatch/MEGA The roomies proceeded to cut the bar in half so they could both sample Sydney's suds. 'To someone on the outside it must have looked hilarious: Two grown men hovered over the kitchen counter delicately dividing up a small bar of green soap,' the scribe said. Court was captivated by its squeaky clean scent. 4 'Sadly, it is also the closest I am ever going to get to Sydney's bathtub,' Chris Harris quipped. Dr. Squatch Advertisement 'The box . . . says it 'smells like morning wood,' but it actually has the aroma of a fresh pine forest. For a concept that's quite dirty, it smells super clean. 'It's strong, but not overwhelming, and I was pleasantly surprised by how much I liked it,' he said, although the price might make him stick with his two-for-$3.99 soap from Trader Joe's. His roomie, meanwhile, gushed, 'I really like the smell, and something about it just feels extra special.'
New York Post
6 days ago
- New York Post
Christian Bale shocks fans with ‘next level' transformation for ‘Madden' role
Christian Bale has once again surprised fans with a stunning transformation for a movie role. The 'Dark Knight' actor, 51, was spotted in Atlanta on Wednesday, June 4, while filming the upcoming sports biopic, 'Madden,' with Nicolas Cage and John Mulaney. Sporting long brown hair, gray sideburns and a widow's peak, Bale looked unrecognizable as he portrayed former Oakland Raiders owner Al Davis. 10 Christian Bale as former Oakland Raiders owner Al Davis. Christopher Oquendo / MEGA The 'American Psycho' star also donned aviator sunglasses, a black leather jacket, black trousers, black dress shoes, and several gold and silver rings in the first look of his character. Bale's appearance as Davis opposite Cage's John Madden was so convincing that many fans of the 'American Hustle' movie star rushed to social media to confirm that it was actually Bale on the Amazon MGM Studios movie set. 'Christian Bale looks unrecognizable,' one person tweeted. 'Christian Bale's transformation for his roles is next level,' another added. 'Bale as Al Davis is gonna kill it,' wrote a third, while a fourth fan commented, 'That's Christian Bale? Totally unrecognizable.' 10 Christian Bale on set the upcoming 'Madden' movie. Christopher Oquendo / MEGA 10 Christian Bale taking a break from filming the sports movie. Christopher Oquendo / MEGA 10 Fans were floored by Christian Bale's transformation. Christopher Oquendo / MEGA The new photos of Bale as Davis come nearly two weeks after Amazon MGM Studios released a first-look photo of the 'Ford v Ferrari' actor and Cage in 'Madden.' In the pic, the two Oscar winners are seen standing in character on a football field while pointing their matching Super Bowl rings at the camera. While Bale looked almost exactly how he appeared on set Wednesday, Cage appeared indistinguishable from the Oakland Raiders coach-turned-famed NFL broadcaster that he will be portraying on screen when the biopic hits theaters. 10 The Oscar winner was hardly recognizable while channeling his character. Christopher Oquendo / MEGA 10 Nic Cage on the set of 'Madden.' Christopher Oquendo/MEGA 10 Nic Cage also transformed his appearance, wearing a fat suit for the role. Christopher Oquendo / MEGA Fans of the 'National Treasure' star, 61, were just as surprised to see Cage portraying Madden as they were to see Bale playing Davis. 'Wow,' one person tweeted after the first picture of Cage as Madden surfaced. 'That's impressive.' 'Incredible transformation!' added another. 'I'm definitely checking this out when it comes out.' 'Man is hard to recognize,' commented a third. 10 First-look at Nicolas Cage as John Madden and Christian Bale as Al Davis. amazonmgmstudios/Instagram 10 Al Davis, then owner of the Oakland Raiders and Hall of Fame Class of 1992, introduces John Madden at the enshrinement ceremony at the Football Hall of Fame on August 5, 2006. UPI 10 Christian Bale's normal appearance is quite different. Getty Images Described as a biographical sports drama film and directed by David O. Russell of 'Silver Linings Playbook' fame, 'Madden' is set to follow its namesake's 'remarkable journey' from NFL coach to broadcasting legend. 'The film follows Madden's remarkable journey – from his Super Bowl-winning partnership with Al Davis and the Raiders, to creating 'Madden NFL,' and becoming one of the most iconic voices in football history,' a synopsis of the flick released by Amazon read. Besides Bale and Cage, the movie is also set to star Mulaney as Electronic Arts founder Trip Hawkins, Kathryn Hahn as Virginia Madden and Sienna Miller as Carol Davis. 'Madden' is set to be released sometime in 2026.
