Paige Spiranac has drawn widespread praise after donating all her day-two winnings from the Barstool Sports Internet Invitational to the family of Cody ‘Beef’ Franke, a beloved employee who passed away in October at the age of 31.
The golf influencer’s act of generosity comes just weeks after she faced intense criticism during the tournament, when accusations of cheating left her visibly upset and sparked a wave of abuse across social media platforms.
Barstool Sports‘ Francis Ellis praised Spiranac for her selfless donation on the Son Of A Boy Dad podcast, revealing she gave roughly $16,000, her full skins winnings from the second day, to Franke‘s family without seeking recognition.
“I found out through a little birdie that when we all got paid our skins money from the second day,” Ellis explained. “Which was 15 or 16 thousand each, Paige Spiranac donated all of her skins money to Beef‘s family.”
Ellis stressed that the donation was a sincere gesture that would likely have remained private without his intervention, despite Adam Ferrone joking it was the sign of a guilty conscience.
“She didn’t ask anyone to tell,” Ellis added. “She didn’t do that, she didn’t expect that to come out. You had to tell the Barstool payroll person how to give their money, and she just told that person, ‘Send it to Beef‘s family.'”
“That’s a significant amount of money, and I’m impressed that she did that. Especially impressed that it would never have gotten out.”
Franke died following a ‘sudden medical issue,’ according to Barstool Sports, leaving colleagues, friends, and fans devastated. Ellis and Brad Dalke even competed in the Internet Invitational in Franke‘s honour, claiming the $1 million grand prize.
Spiranac reacts to online death threats
The gesture has since earned widespread acclaim online, showcasing Spiranac‘s empathy. In a tournament overshadowed by controversy, her support for a late colleague’s family highlights her character and the human side of professional sport.
But the saga did not end with the donation. Spiranac faced severe online abuse after being accused of adjusting her ball’s lie for her playing partner, Malosi Togisala, at Big Cedar Lodge, Missouri, during the tournament.
“I didn’t realise that you couldn’t do that… I wasn’t trying to cheat. I would never do that,” Spiranac said, defending her actions after the backlash escalated across social media platforms.
She later reflected on the abuse in a series of Instagram posts, describing the threats as some of the worst she had faced in a decade.
“I’m talking tens of thousands of death threats,” Spiranac said. “People telling me to kill myself, the most vile, horrendous stuff. It’s serious stuff. It’s not easy, and it hasn’t been easy. I just needed to remove myself [online] for my mental health.”
Despite the online vitriol, Spiranac has refocused on positive initiatives. Her donation to Franke‘s family and ongoing projects demonstrate her resilience and commitment to giving back, even amid intense public scrutiny.
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