Paige Spiranac may be one of the biggest golf influencers on the planet right now, but her journey to this point hasn’t been easy. Before she took on the role of an influencer, she wanted to engage in actual course play. She did just that, but a series of constant online harassment, cyberbullying, death threats, and a lack of visible results from her games cruelly pushed her out of it. However, instead of backing away, she decided to build a career in the sport that made her feel “like a failure,” and perhaps that’s why her voice matters so much today.

Recently, Paige Spiranac sat down for an interview on Skratch to discuss her recent opinions on the golf world and more. Starting with her journey in the sport, the former admitted that there was a time when she was serious about playing golf. However, with time, the “frustration” got to her and she “realized that I just couldn’t handle the pressure of playing golf professionally, I leaned in, and it became all about content creation because I had lost joy in playing golf.” Luckily for her, the stage was ready. It was almost like the world was waiting for someone like her. After finishing 9th at the 2016 CoBank Colorado Women’s Open, her followers skyrocketed from 500 to 100,000. The stage was set for her. It has been almost a decade since, and it is, without a doubt, true that she cares a lot about the sport.

Admitting that she feels the “spark” for playing again, Paige Spiranac admits the influencer industry is rapidly changing. “Now, I feel like I have to find my passion again for creating content because the media industry has shifted and changed so much. When I first started doing it, it was really authentic and organic; I felt like I could just share something. I wasn’t thinking about the algorithm, likes, views, or anything. Now, it’s all about rage bait, clickbait, and doing outrageous things. It’s almost like I have to find my path again within the media industry.”

The idea to reinvent herself stems from her rivals. Grace Charis is often mentioned as a rival because she has a strong social media presence, sharing both glamorous content and golf tips. Charis has gained 3.7 million followers on Instagram and 3 million on TikTok. Other influencers like Karin Hart and Hailey Rae Ostrom are also becoming popular and trying to get attention in the same area. However, despite the worry, Spiranac is doing pretty well for herself.

With 4 million followers on Instagram and 438,000 subscribers on YouTube, the content creator has secured big deals with several companies. She represents Parsons Xtreme Golf by promoting their golf clubs in social media and TV ads, and she serves as a brand ambassador for 18Birdies, Mizzen+Main, and Philip Stein Watches. She also collaborates with PointsBet as a brand ambassador and on-air personality, and she holds a stake in the company. Additionally, Spiranac runs a subscription website called OnlyPaige, which provides a lot of golf content, bikinis, lifestyle tips, fitness advice, and some fun food challenges, according to the official website. Given the success, she has often shared one consistent message with the other influencers in the game.

Paige Spiranac has one message for the influencers

The self-proclaimed “OG Insta Golf Girl,” Paige Spiranac, sat down for a discussion on Quiet Please with Mel Reid and Kira Dixon, where she shared her thoughts on the increasing competition in the influencing world. Did others replicating her actions get to her? “At first it was a little bit frustrating, not going to lie. I think that you put so much time and effort into curating this brand and making it what it is.”  Spiranac’s one of the biggest rivals, Grace Charis, is often accused of copying Spiranac, even in the way she dresses. In 2023, for instance, Charis’s Master’s outfit–a green jacket paired with a matching mini skirt–seemed “familiar,” as Spiranac had showcased a similar look back in 2021. But Spiranac also considers “imitation is the greatest form of flattery.”

Despite the constant rivalries, however, Spiranac’s biggest goal is to “getting more women into the game. And now so many women, whatever reason it might be, are now out on the range hitting golf balls. And I think that’s awesome.” Perhaps that’s why Paige Spiranac believes that everyone possesses distinct qualities that differentiate them and should celebrate those attributes. Talking about the same, the former golfer has often said that she’d rather everyone learns from her and make their own journeys. “My biggest advice is to again, be authentic to who you are and what makes you genuine,”  she said in the interview.