Paige Spiranac addresses $1m golf rules controversy after wave of online abuse
A viral moment in an unconventional tournament
Paige Spiranac, one of the internet’s most followed golf personalities, has responded to allegations that she committed a rules violation during the Internet Invitational, an influencer based competition created to blend entertainment with high prize stakes. The format brings together dozens of online creators, many of whom are not touring professionals, in a made for streaming environment where cameras capture nearly every shot.
The 48 player field eventually narrowed to two final groups. During the ninth hole of one match, footage from Barstool Sports showed Spiranac near teammate Malosi Togisala’s ball in the long grass. Opponents questioned whether she pressed the grass down, an action that would count as improving the lie. Under the Rules of Golf, players cannot move, bend or break any growing natural object around the ball.
Spiranac told other competitors in the moment that she believed she was allowed to clear the grass because she thought it qualified as a loose impediment. Her emotional reaction was visible on camera as she insisted she had not intended to cheat. The opposing team eventually won the contest, but the dispute did not fade after the event ended.
The online fallout grows beyond the sport
In the days that followed, the incident spread widely on social media, especially among audiences unfamiliar with golf’s detailed rulebook. Spiranac said on Instagram that she received an unexpected level of hostility, describing what she called tens of thousands of threatening messages. She said some comments were severe enough that she could have considered legal action.
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For several days, she stepped away from social platforms, later telling followers in an Instagram Story that she needed time to protect her mental well being. The scale of the response, she said, was the worst she had encountered in the decade she has worked as a public figure online.
Spiranac explains her understanding of the rule
Spiranac addressed the rules question directly when she returned online. She said she has never faced accusations of cheating at any point in her golfing background and described the misunderstanding as painfully embarrassing. According to her explanation, she shifted grass aside only to identify the ball and did not believe she altered the lie.
She also noted that the setting, with numerous spectators, rival players and livestream cameras nearby, made intentional cheating practically impossible. She acknowledged that the action was a rules infraction and said she has learned from the incident.
Why this moment resonated beyond golf
For viewers who do not follow golf closely, the dispute highlights two overlapping realities. First, the sport’s rulebook is among the most technical in athletics, with infractions occurring even at the professional level when players unintentionally disturb natural objects. Second, influencer based competitions can amplify small moments into viral controversies, particularly when high prize money and personality driven audiences are involved.
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The Internet Invitational has grown as part of a broader trend of entertainment focused golf events, which combine competition with online storytelling. In this format, minor rules misunderstandings can quickly become flashpoints, especially when the participants have millions of followers watching in real time.
Spiranac thanked those who contacted her with support, saying it meant more to her than she expected during a difficult week.
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