Paige Spiranac Shares Struggles from 2015 Dubai Ladies Masters

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates — Paige Spiranac reflected on her challenging professional debut at the 2015 Dubai Ladies Masters during a recent episode of the “Quiet Please!” podcast. The former golfer, who turned pro just months prior, described the experience as one of the “worst moments” of her life.

In her debut, Spiranac shot rounds of 77 and 79, failing to make the cut at the prestigious tournament held in December 2015. “I’ll never forget that,” Spiranac said, recalling her struggles. The rising social media star was relatively unknown at the time and faced intense scrutiny from peers and the media.

Co-host Mel Reid, a professional golfer on the Ladies European Tour, prompted Spiranac to share her experiences from the event. Spiranac revealed that many believed her invitation to the tournament was beyond her capability, leading to hurtful rumors. “There were constant comments like ‘I did sexual favors to get this invite,’ and I was listening to it — and they would say [it] within earshots of me. It was tough,” she said.

Spiranac noted that with her social media following skyrocketing from 500 to 100,000 in the wake of her viral moments, she was unprepared for the onslaught of media attention. “I show up and was doing hours of press, which I wasn’t prepared for. I had no training to do this,” she explained. While she appreciated the support from some of her peers, she also faced hostility on the course.

Reflecting on the criticism she faced for receiving special treatment, Spiranac stated, “You work your ass off, week in and week out… and here comes me and I just walk on in.” She acknowledged that her sponsorships with brands like Callaway and Lululemon may have fueled resentment among other competitors.

Since that debut, Spiranac has transformed her popularity into a successful influencer career, securing numerous brand deals and modeling opportunities. She has amassed a following of over 4 million on Instagram and 1.6 million on TikTok. In 2018, she made her debut in the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue and was recognized as a “legend” for the publication’s 60th anniversary issue last year.