The Internet Invitational is returning with an even bigger prize pool — and one of the most popular players is also returning.
Former professional golfer turned influencer Paige Spiranac was featured in last year’s edition of the golf tournament hosted by Barstool Sports and Bob Does Sports.
She and her team made it to the championship, but ultimately lost on the 18th hole.
However, some say that Spiranac’s team made some suspicious moves in that final.
She was accused of cheating during the event, stemming from one shot.
After one of her teammates hit a shot that landed in the rough, Spiranac was caught on camera flattening the grass in front of the lie.
Many golfers pointed to Rule 8, which states that golfers must play the course as found and make no modifications.
Spiranac admitted to her mistake but said it was unintentional.
“I am painfully, painfully embarrassed that I did not know this rule,” Spiranac said in an Instagram story at the time. “I would never intentionally cheat. In all my years of playing golf, I have never been accused of cheating. There were so many cameras on me. To blatantly cheat with that many people around, that many cameras around, would be insane. So, I made a mistake. I learned now that it was a rules infraction, and I’ll never do it again.”
After the tournament, Spiranac took a roughly two-week break from posting on social media due to the harassment she received online.
“The last week and a half is probably the worst hate I’ve ever received in the 10 years of me doing this,” Spiranac said. “I’m talking tens of thousands of death threats, people telling me to kill myself. The most vile, horrendous stuff you could ever say to an individual that’s been in my DMs to the point where we were discussing me having to potentially get a restraining order. I mean, it’s serious stuff.”
Despite the backlash, Spirinac is back for this year’s tourney, which has quadrupled its prize pool from $1 million to $4 million.
The tournament date and location have not yet been set, but will again feature 48 competitors.
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