Paige Spiranac faced criticism at the 2025 Internet Invitational after being seen interacting with long grass before a shot, raising questions about rule adherence as contestants confronted her about whether she had improved her lie during the play.
The six-episode series features content creators competing for a prize exceeding $1 million. Spiranac‘s team lost the hole in question, and fellow competitors questioned her actions after the shot, asking if she had attempted to gain an unfair advantage.
“I thought we could do that,” Spiranac said. “I didn’t realize that you couldn’t do that. … I didn’t think I improved the lie.
“I didn’t move the ball. I wasn’t trying to cheat, like I would never do that.”
Spiranac became emotional and started crying after the exchange, drawing attention from other competitors. Her reaction sparked debate online, with many questioning whether the tears were sincere or an attempt to deflect criticism for her actions.
Barstool Sports shared the clip on X.com, formerly Twitter, on November 13, 2025. The video has amassed nearly 790,000 views, with comments criticizing Spiranac for her reaction and questioning her credibility as a competitor in the high-stakes content creator series.
One user commented, “Crying is such a cop out in a situation where you cheated.”
Another wrote, “Claiming to not know you couldn’t do that after criticizing opponents is ironic, then crying when called out is comical and unconvincing.”
And a third noted, “Imagine chirping someone for not playing professional golf and then blatantly cheating.”
The Internet Invitational began on October 27, 2025, and features 48 creators as contestants compete in golf-based challenges for both prize money and online recognition. Spiranac has kept followers updated via social media, documenting her experiences after each episode.
Spiranac announces next golfing venture
Spiranac is no longer a professional but has prior competitive experience as she won a Cactus Tour event in 2016 by defeating Hannah O’Sullivan and previously participated in the PGA Tour Creator Classic, a competition for golf content creators, before joining the Internet Invitational.
Now she announces she will compete in the 2025 Grass League Championship in Tempe, Arizona, on December 5-6, 2025, as she posted on Instagram wearing a cherry-red, off-the-shoulder top with rosette details, aligning with the holiday season.
Tickets are available for $32.69 for general admission and $108.96 for VIP access, including single-day options. The two-day event will feature musical performances, and Spiranac will provide on-air commentary for the Golf Channel’s Saturday broadcast.
“This tournament is really amazing,” Spiranac said. “With high-level amateurs, pros, men and women competing in team-based two-person scrambled tournaments.
“And if you have the opportunity to go in person, you definitely should.”
The announcement demonstrates Spiranac‘s ongoing involvement in competitive golf and her efforts to engage fans.
Despite the controversy at the Internet Invitational, she continues to maintain her presence in both live events and media coverage.
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