Social media influencer Paige Spiranac has made a name for herself not just through her eye-catching outfits on the golf course, but with her deep passion for the sport itself. Spiranac, who played for San Diego State and earned all-conference honors twice, isn't just a pretty face on Instagram—she's a former competitive golfer who's genuinely interested in making the game better for everyone.
Videos by FanBuzz
"I've always cared about the game, even before social media," Spiranac said, referencing her days playing college golf, where she won a Mountain West Championship in 2015. But it's clear she's not done advocating for golf. After a video of Brian Harman's lengthy shot preparation at the Sony Open sparked conversation about the pace of play, Spiranac didn't hesitate to throw her hat into the ring with a potential solution.
"Why not adopt a system like the AJGA?" Spiranac suggested. "They use a red, yellow, green card system where you get a time for each hole, and if you get two red cards, you get timed and then penalized. It worked. You should be punished for slow play. It's against the rules of the game."
(Paige Spiranac/Instagram)
That idea has caught fire with golf fans, many of whom are already coming up with their own variations. One fan pushed the idea further, saying, "Shot clock visible on every hole. Start with volunteers resetting the clock for each contestant, using cameras and tech to monitor it. 45 seconds max, 1-stroke penalty each time."
Another fan raised a valid concern, pointing out, "But doesn't that penalize people who aren't the slow players in a group with one who is? Maybe a shot clock, like they've adopted in TGL, would work better."
(Paige Spiranac/X)
The debate has taken off, and Spiranac's suggestion may be a step toward some much-needed change in the game. As the PGA Tour continues to wrestle with the pace of play issue, the idea of introducing a more structured, penalty-based approach seems to be gaining traction.
Could this be the rule change that transforms the game? Well, it's hard to say for sure. But Spiranac is starting the conversation, and if the PGA Tour listens, it could spark some serious movement toward making golf more accessible—and faster—for everyone.
Do you think golf is in desperate need of these rule changes? I'd say it's about time the sport caught up with the times.
