Can golf be sexy? If you ask the 4 million followers of Paige Spiranac on Instagram, they’d definitely nod their heads.
The 31-year-old is one of the most well-known golf pros on social media. After starting out her career as a promising young golfer, she rocketed herself to fame through her massive Instagram following.
In 2016, she retired from professional golf. However, she’s still active on her social media accounts, making money through various golf-related endorsements and sponsorships.
Read on to find out more about Paige Spiranac, including her golf career, personal life, net worth and more.
Paige Spiranac: Early Life And Background
Spiranac was born on March 26, 1993, in Wheat Ridge, Colorado. She is of Croatian descent and was born into a very athletic family. Her mother was a professional Ballerina. And her father was a member of the 1976 Pittsburgh Panthers national championship college football team. Paige’s sister, Lexie, competed in Stanford’s track team.
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Before golf, Paige was an aspiring gymnast. She trained at an elite level with hopes of qualifying for the Olympics. She told Golf.com she trained six days a week for up to seven hours at a time.
However, at age 12, her hopes were dashed when she acquired a fractured kneecap. After much soul-searching, she decided she still wanted to become a professional athlete. After trying a number of different sports, golf was the sport she felt naturally drawn to.
How Did Paige Spiranac’s Golf Career Begin?
While competing in the Colorado Junior golf circuit, Paige won five tournaments out of seven tries, including the 2010 CWGA Junior Stroke Play. She eventually became a top college recruit and won a golf scholarship to the University of Arizona.
After experiencing bullying at Arizona, she transferred to San Diego State University in her sophomore year and became the captain of the women’s golf team. In her senior season, Paige led the team to win the Mountain West Conference Championship. This was the women’s golf team’s first conference championship in the school’s history. Paige also earned All-Mountain West Conference honors during the 2012-13 and 2013-14 seasons.
Paige Spiranac’s Social Media Rise
In 2015, unbeknownst to Spiranac, a friend sent a picture of her to the TFM girls‘ Instagram account. For those unfamiliar, the account is associated with the popular college website Total Frat Move.
Total Frat Move subsequently spotlighted her in an article. As a result, her Instagram following jumped from 10k to over 100k followers in two days. Her social media presence exploded from there, fueled by her racy, cleavage-heavy golfing posts.
Paige Spiranac’s Pro Golf Career And Subsequent Retirement
There was a huge social media explosion around Spiranac, and her momentum was growing online. As a result, sponsors and endorsements started coming her way. She also caught the attention of the organizers of the 2015 Omega Dubai Ladies Classic. That was enough for them to invite her to play on the Ladies European Tour.
As a result, Spiranac made her pro debut in Dubai in December 2015. Unfortunately, she finished 101st out of 107 and didn’t make the cut.
Paige continued to refine her game and swing. In May 2016, she debuted on the Cactus Tour, finishing 14th at her first event. On her third start at Scottsdale’s Orange Tree Country Club, she achieved her first and only tournament win, beating out Hannah Sullivan, the top-ranked amateur at the time.
In August 2016, Spiranac attempted her first LPGA Qualifying Tournament. Sadly, she was unsuccessful in gaining a card to play on the professional circuit.
Later, in December 2016, Spiranac was invited to the Ladies European Tour in Dubai once again, but missed the cut. Since then, she has retired from playing golf professionally.
Paige Spiranac’s Controversy
Paige Spiranac’s path to becoming a professional golfer caused a divide in the golf community. Many accused her of using her looks and sex appeal to get ahead rather than talent.
Her feature on the cover of Gold Digest stirred questions about what she accomplished to deserve such attention. Many pointed to the fact that she had never even finished in the top 300 of the NCAA rankings.
Spiranac has been criticized for ‘sexualizing women’s golf,’ a sentiment which she says hurt her deeply. Other Instagram sports influencers like Bri Teresi, however, have embraced this trend.
However, Spiranac hasn’t allowed the criticism to hold her back. In 2018, her popularity as a sports media personality grew even more when she appeared in Sports Illustrated’s Swimsuit Edition.
Is Paige Spiranac Married?
Spiranac married Steven Tinoco, a personal trainer and former minor league baseball player, in 2018. They began dating after he DM’d her on Instagram. Paige was impressed with his old-fashioned manners and his good heart. She prefers to keep the details of their marriage private.
However, on March 7, 2022, Spiranac announced her split with husband Steven.
What Is Paige Spiranac’s Net Worth?
Paige Spiranac’s net worth in 2024 is estimated to be $2 million, according to the Celebrity Net Worth. She earns this through her endorsements and social media posts. Paige also has partnerships with companies like Octagon, Barstool Sports, Topgolf and 18Birdies.
Where To Next For Paige Spiranac?
Paige Spiranac has retired from professional golf and instead is focused on her social media career and personal brand. “I don’t play professionally anymore. I am in golf media.”
She regularly collaborates with various brands. Paige also hosts golf clinics and events and has endorsement deals with sporting brands and golf apps.
In 2020, she launched a podcast called Playing-A-Round where she talks about sport with a healthy dose of sex.
Paige has said that she would like to use her fame to campaign against bullying. Much of that has to do with her having been the target of online and offline bullying throughout her life. She is an official ambassador of The Cybersmile Foundation which provides support for victims of cyberbullying.
She also expressed a desire to use her platform to support female golfers and spot light the sport. “There are so many women athletes who need to get more recognition,” said Spiranac. “I would like to use my platform to amplify them.”
When she isn’t at the gym or perfecting her game, Paige enjoys traveling the world. She also enjoys making trick shot videos, reading comic books, or exploring her interest in fashion.
Also Read: Let’s Meet The Jaw-Dropping College Golfer Skylar Kew, Who Is Said To Be The “Next Paige Spiranac”
