Golf influencer Paige Spiranac returns to Internet Invitational amid putting criticism
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The gist
Golf influencer Paige Spiranac returned for Season 2 of The Internet Invitational after a putting incident drew criticism.
The rules debate over her play sits alongside a new playing-partner content push.
Background
Paige Spiranac is a former professional golfer and golf influencer, 33, who played at the University of Arizona and San Diego State before trying the LPGA Tour and was named the world's No. 1 ranked golf influencer by OutKick. She built a large following through social media, golf instruction and entertainment without competing regularly on the LPGA Tour. This month she drew attention on two fronts: a putting incident that Fox News criticized, and her return to The Internet Invitational, a YouTube golf tournament, after the controversy that followed her Season 1 debut.
How it unfolded
- Oct 13, 2026Spiranac posted "We are so back @RobbyBerger" on X the same week she appeared on the course in a Willy Wonka costume with a group dressed as Oompa Loompas.
- Oct 14, 2026A photo of the Willy Wonka group was shared on Instagram from Bob Does Sports' account.
- Oct 15, 2026Spiranac shared a selfie from her latest round; in under an hour it received over 40,000 views and 3,800 likes.
- Oct 16, 2026Fox News criticized Spiranac over a putting incident, and golf fans defended her after she was urged to "do better."
- Oct 18, 2026Spiranac posted a golf cart photo with Peloton instructor Kendall Toole, promoting a new YouTube video.
- Oct 19, 2026She shared selfies from the course in a tight pink mini dress with a plunging neckline, posing inside a golf cart.
- Oct 20, 2026Spiranac shared a black bodysuit selfie with gold hoop earrings and glossy makeup.
- Oct 22, 2026An OutKick column credited her "playing partner" content format with reviving her content.
Who’s saying what
- Caution
- Fox News wrote that American amateur golf has "a full integrity issue," described what looked like a knock-in and move-on putt by Spiranac and her partner, and asked "Are they just doing this for YouTube so men will keep watching?"
- Support
- Golf fans defended Spiranac after she was urged to "do better" over the putting incident.
- Analysts
- OutKick's Joe Kinsey wrote that her costume content "started to get old" but that her playing-partner format "HAS POPPED."
Still unverified
Fox News described the putt as looking like a knock-in and move-on putt and asked whether it was done for YouTube.