Paige Spiranac Details ‘Sexual Favor’ Rumors Amid ‘Worst Day of My Life’
Paige Spiranac, a former professional golfer turned social media influencer, recently opened up about one of the most challenging moments of her career, describing it as the “worst day of my life.” During a candid interview on the Quiet Please! podcast with hosts Mel Reid and Kira Dixon, the 32-year-old reflected on her professional debut at the 2015 Dubai Ladies Masters, where she faced harsh criticism and damaging rumors that left a lasting impact on her mental health and career trajectory. Spiranac’s story sheds light on the pressures of navigating a male-dominated sport as a young woman, the toll of cyberbullying, and her resilience in overcoming adversity to build a successful brand.
In 2015, Spiranac was a rising star, fresh off her collegiate golf career at San Diego State University, where she earned All-Mountain West honors and led her team to a conference title. Having turned professional in August of that year, she received a sponsor’s invite to the prestigious Dubai Ladies Masters, a tournament on the Ladies European Tour. At the time, Spiranac was also gaining attention on social media for her engaging content, often featuring stylish golf outfits that some deemed provocative. Her growing online presence, which saw her Instagram following surge from 500 to 100,000 in a short period, drew both admiration and scrutiny. Many in the golfing community believed the Dubai invite was unwarranted, given her limited professional experience, leading to whispers that she had secured the opportunity through inappropriate means.
Spiranac recounted the hostile environment she encountered at the tournament. “I show up and was doing hours of press, which I wasn’t prepared for. I had no training to do this,” she shared. The media frenzy was overwhelming for the then-22-year-old, who had never played golf outside the United States. On the practice range, she felt isolated as fellow competitors avoided her. “I would go on the range, and girls would just scatter. No one wanted to hit next to me,” she said. The most painful part, however, was the malicious gossip. “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. It was tough,” Spiranac revealed. These rumors, fueled by her social media persona and brand deals with companies like Callaway and Lululemon, took a significant emotional toll.
The pressure of the event and the hostility from peers affected Spiranac’s performance. She shot rounds of 77 and 79, missing the cut and adding to her sense of failure. “It was my first pro event—it was really difficult. I just wanted to be liked, and I played so bad. It was horrendous,” she admitted. The experience left her grappling with self-doubt and mental health struggles. In a 2018 interview with Sports Illustrated, Spiranac shared that she broke down before her tee time, overwhelmed by feelings of helplessness and isolation. “I was sitting in the bathroom just bawling and was like, ‘I don’t want to go through this pain,’” she recalled. Misdiagnosed with depression and prescribed medication that exacerbated her anxiety, Spiranac faced a dark period that led her to question her future in professional golf.
Despite the setbacks, Spiranac showed empathy for her critics, acknowledging the competitive nature of the sport. “You work your ass off, week in and week out, and here comes me and I just walk on in,” she said, recognizing why her presence might have “ruffled feathers.” However, the false accusations and cyberbullying she endured were unjust, and she has since used her platform to advocate for mental health awareness and combat online abuse. As an ambassador for The Cybersmile Foundation, Spiranac supports initiatives to address cyberbullying, drawing from her own experiences to help others.
Today, Spiranac has transformed her challenges into a thriving career as a golf influencer, with over 4 million Instagram followers, 1.6 million on TikTok, and 1 million on X. She has embraced her unique brand, using it to promote golf and engage with fans through instructional content, vlogs, and collaborations, such as her recent cameo in Happy Gilmore 2. While she no longer competes professionally, Spiranac remains passionate about the sport, recently sharing her intent to track her scores again and document her golfing journey. Her story is a testament to resilience, highlighting the importance of perseverance in the face of adversity and the power of turning personal struggles into opportunities for growth and advocacy.
