Popular golf influencer Paige Spiranac found herself at the center of a cheating controversy during the high-stakes Internet Invitational tournament, a $1-million event featuring YouTube and social media personalities.
The Controversial Incident
During the final round of the alternate-shot competition, which was filmed earlier this month but broadcast on YouTube on November 14, 2025, Spiranac was accused of violating golf rules. English professional golfer and YouTuber Peter Finch observed Spiranac apparently trampling down grass in front of a ball in the rough, thereby improving the lie for her teammate Malosi Togisala.
The incident occurred during the championship match at Big Cedar Lodge's Cliffhangers course, where Spiranac's team faced off against former US Amateur champion Brad Dalke and Barstool Sports personalities Francis Ellis and Cody 'Beef' Franke.
Rule Violation and Emotional Aftermath
According to the Rules of Golf, specifically Rule 8.1 under "course played as it is found," players are prohibited from moving, bending, or breaking any growing or attached natural object. The penalty for such an infraction in match play is loss of the hole.
When confronted about the violation, Spiranac became emotional and defensive. "I thought you could do that. I didn't realize you couldn't do that. I didn't move the ball," she explained. After Ellis clarified that stomping around in long grass to create a clear path constitutes a rules violation, Spiranac insisted she "wasn't trying to cheat" and expressed concern about public perception.
The controversy ultimately became a non-issue when Spiranac's team lost the hole, but the incident was captured on video and shared widely on social media, including by Barstool Sports.
Broader Context and Personal Struggles
The cheating allegations emerged during a difficult period for the golf influencer. Just last week, Spiranac made an emotional post on Instagram where she broke down in tears while discussing hate messages she had received from online trolls.
In her emotional video, Spiranac revealed deep-seated insecurities about social acceptance, stating she has "struggled socially my entire life" with making friends and reading social cues. She described feeling particularly vulnerable after the Internet Invitational, where she initially felt she had finally found acceptance within the golf industry.
The tournament, spearheaded by Barstool Sports founder Dave Portnoy, featured 48 internet personalities competing in various golf challenges. Despite the controversy, the team of Dalke, Ellis, and Franke ultimately won the competition after Frankie Borelli hit a chip shot into the water on the final hole.
Spiranac has not publicly commented on the specific cheating allegations, though the incident has sparked significant discussion about golf etiquette and the pressures facing social media personalities in competitive environments.
