Paige Spiranac Opens Up About Sexist Rumors That Nearly Derailed Her Golf Career

Paige Spiranac is pulling back the curtain on the toxic rumors and isolation she faced as a rising star in professional golf—including vile claims that she traded "sexual favors" for career opportunities.

In a candid interview on the "Quiet Please!" podcast (March 19), the 32-year-old influencer recalled the whispers and outright insults that plagued her 2015 tournament debut. "People would say it within earshot—that I’d slept my way into invites. It was brutal," she shared. Already nervous for her first pro event, the comments compounded her stress: "I played horrendously. I just wanted to be liked."

Spiranac’s rapid rise—from 500 to 100,000 followers overnight after going viral—made her a target. "No one knew how to handle virality back then, least of all me," she said. The scrutiny extended to fellow players, with many refusing to practice near her on the range. "Girls scattered. The majority were cold—I get it. They’d worked for years, and I walked in with brand deals."

The toll was emotional. In 2018, she revealed to Sports Illustrated how she broke down in a bathroom before that fateful 2015 tournament, overwhelmed by the loneliness and cruelty.

Now, Spiranac’s speaking out to highlight the double standards women in sports face—and how confidence became her comeback.