Golf influencer Paige Spiranac is starting 2026 with a message of resilience rather than retreat after a turbulent end to last year.
The popular social media star, who boasts millions of followers across her platforms, recently addressed fans after a difficult stretch that saw her dragged into controversy at The Internet Invitational. Accusations of cheating during the $1 million final round sparked intense backlash, even though Spiranac and her team ultimately lost the 3-on-3 finale.
The incident quickly spiraled online. Fans fixated on a moment in the tall grass, claiming Spiranac broke the rules. She strongly denied any intent to cheat, insisting the situation stemmed from a misunderstanding.
“I haven’t really talked about it because there’s not much to say about it, honestly,” Spiranac said back in November. “I am painfully, painfully embarrassed that I did not know that rule … but I would never intentionally cheat. In all my years of playing golf, I have never been accused of cheating.”
A brutal wave of backlash
What followed was far more serious than typical online criticism. Spiranac revealed she was flooded with disturbing messages in the aftermath of the event.
“The last week and a half has been probably the worst hate I’ve ever received in the 10 years of me doing this,” Spiranac explained. “I’m talking tens of thousands of death threats, people telling me to kill myself, the most vile, horrendous stuff you could ever say to an individual.”
She added that the situation escalated to the point where discussions about legal protection were necessary, underscoring how intense the harassment became.
After stepping away from social media to protect her mental health, Spiranac says she is now in a better place, crediting her support system for helping her through.
“It hasn’t been easy,” she said. “I just needed to remove myself for my mental health. Luckily, having a good support system and family around helped a lot.”
Looking ahead
Despite the drama and the emotional toll, Paige Spiranac is making one thing clear heading into the new year: she is not backing away from the sport that made her famous.
Looking ahead, Spiranac pledged to stay fully committed to golf – and to creating even more content for her audience.
“Here’s to more golf in 2026,” she wrote, signaling a fresh start after one of the toughest stretches of her career.
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