Paige Spiranac has built her career on her love for golf, transforming her early talent into a social media empire and becoming one of the sport’s most recognizable figures.
With millions of followers on Instagram and other platforms, she has leveraged her presence not only to share golf insights but also to speak candidly about her personal struggles. Behind the carefully curated photos and videos, however, lies a complex relationship with golf – one that has profoundly shaped both her identity and her emotional wellbeing.
Recently, Spiranac opened up in an Instagram Q&A about the paradoxical role golf has played in her life. She admitted, “I’ve always said that golf is the reason I’m in therapy, and it’s also my therapy.”
The sport, she explained, can be simultaneously infuriating and soothing. There are moments when the frustration makes her want to quit entirely, yet the act of hitting balls on the range with her favorite music playing can be deeply therapeutic.
This duality is at the heart of her enduring love-hate relationship with golf, a dynamic that many of her followers may find surprisingly relatable.
The duality that keeps her swinging
Spiranac described golf as a sport that tests patience and resilience in equal measure.
“You can be sitting on the first tee, do everything right, and still have either the best round of your life or the worst,” she explained. That uncertainty, she noted, is what makes the sport addictive, and also what contributes to the emotional challenges she has faced over the years.
The highs of a great round can feel euphoric, but the lows can trigger frustration, self-doubt, and anxiety – feelings that have, at times, required professional support.
Beyond golf, Spiranac has been candid about her mental health journey, including the pressures of social media and constant public scrutiny. She has taken breaks from posting, reduced her online activity, and reflected on ways to maintain balance while continuing to engage her audience.
Her openness has helped destigmatize conversations about mental health, particularly for athletes and influencers navigating highpressure environments.
“Ever since I started playing golf at 13, I always wanted to play professionally. There are so many reasons why someone doesn’t make it to that level and for me it was mental,” she posted on Instagram last September after making a breakthrough regarding her mental well-being.
“Although I felt like a loser and a quitter at the time, I always knew I wasn’t cut out for professional sports and was able to find a path better suited for my personality. It’s time we stop beating ourselves up and start being our own biggest cheerleaders! I love creating, the game of golf and connecting with you all. Thank you for your support.”
Spiranac‘s story highlights how passion and pressure can coexist in complicated ways.
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