Paige Spiranac finally addressed the confusion surrounding her participation in Barstool’s Internet Invitational tournament is finally over. Barstool’s Internet Invitational, a fan favorite event run by Fore Play’s Riggs. Riggs had asked her for help with the draft and pairings, a role traditionally filled by whoever was handling matchups. for the tournament to run smoothly. Frankie, the podcast’s third host, drafted her third overall because she was already helping with organization. It was not a power grab; it was a team decision to keep things moving along during this event.

Throughout sessions, Paige reported that she made a set of spreadsheets to keep track of every matchup and the result. A behind-the-scenes job is either delegated to an assistant or the volunteer who happens to be coordinating the bracket. Parings aren’t drawn at random. Someone has got to balance schedules, match the performance of opponents with players he or she knows can beat them, and slot people in.

Paige took to X to clear the smoke. She clarified that she jumped into the Internet Invitational only because Riggs had asked for her help with pairings and drafts. She was not just playing around; she sat behind the table and helped build the teams and run the programme smoothly. Amended Frankie drafting her third wasn’t some “she’s really the third-best golfer here” moment. It was just because she was already doing the job of helping to decide who plays who.

Paige literally spent her break making the spreadsheets, working for more than 70 hours, keeping a track of match results. In these invite-style events, someone needs to keep score, update brackets, and help set the next matchups. That’s how the tournament doesn’t descend into chaos. She simply filled that admin role because she was asked. Her post basically says, “Calm down, I wasn’t gaming the system—I was just doing unpaid tournament ops.” The irony? She got flamed for helping the event run smoothly. The whole “backlash” started because folks didn’t understand she was both participant and organizer.

She faced criticism earlier this year when fans noticed she trash-talked LPGA Tour golfers on social media. After commenting on what it would look like to market women’s golf differently, towards a younger, more entertainment-oriented audience. Those players expressed appreciation but seldom entered the public eye. People selectively snipped her interview quotes, wrenched their real meaning out of context, then cherry-picked examples that made it sound like she was sniping at LPGA members.

Once again, people saw a headline-friendly surface (“Paige drafted third!”) and ignored the important work behind the scenes. She was literally spreadsheet-ing and match-tracking behind the scenes. Most of all, just as in the previous example, what caused all this backlash against her was not so much the action that she took as how people felt about it when it reflected on their lives.

She keeps proving the internet loves vibes over facts all the time. And Paige always has to be the one to explain.

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Internet Invitational Signals Golf’s New Creator Era

When golf meets YouTube, everything changes. The event has at least a $1 million prize pool and dozens of creators who not only bring entertainment but also indulge in a multilateral economic transference. In a format never seen before, hosted by Barstool Sports and Golfer Channel Wisconsin. The pro tournament is now an open-air carnival lit by LED lights. The invited competitors are YouTube creators from those media entities. Who knows what will happen next? Apparently, no one.

Creators like Robby Berger (Bob Does Sports) and Dave Portnoy leaned into spectacle. Berger said the invitational is “golf’s first truly creator-centric major.”  Meanwhile, Portnoy noted: “We want bad shots. We want you to feel the pressure.” Brands are paying attention too. The format pushes multi-platform exposure, from YouTube to Instagram, and unlocks new audiences for apparel, equipment, and lifestyle partnerships.

Streaming metrics underscore the shift. One article reports the internet invitational is pulling “millions of views” and spotlighting the moment a creator missed a tee-time and triggered drama.  That buzz equals value. Sponsors see creators not just as competitors, but as walking content machines, each tee shot a clip, each reaction a potential viral moment.

Golf’s old guard may peer skeptically at the creators invading the fairway. But the economics speak loudly. When creators, brands, and cameras collide, the result is a new tournament model for the 21st-century attention economy. The Internet Invitational may not replace the traditional PGA major, but it signals where golf entertainment is headed.