Paige Spiranac, golf
Photo by Dave Kotinsky/Getty Images for Berenberg Invitational

Paige Spiranac opens up about pressure and walking away from pro golf

Paige Spiranac has built her brand by blending golf, social media, and unfiltered honesty. This week, she leaned into that mix again — reminding fans how much mental health shaped her path away from professional golf.

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In a candid Instagram post, Spiranac reflected on what it felt like to step back from her dream of competing on the LPGA Tour.

"Ever since I started playing golf at 13, I always wanted to play professionally," Spiranac wrote while jumping on a trending video format. "There are so many reasons why someone doesn't make it to that level and for me it was mental.

"I've always struggled with competing under pressure. I would always crack and was the worst version of myself. I'm so grateful for the detour my life took years ago."

That detour came after a decorated amateur and college career. Spiranac starred at San Diego State, winning the 2013 Mountain West Conference Championship before giving pro golf a shot.

She picked up a win on the Cactus Tour in 2016 but never managed to secure LPGA status. The grind — and the weight of expectation — proved too much.

"Although I felt like a loser and a quitter at the time, I always knew I wasn't cut out for professional sports and was able to find a path better suited for my personality," she added.

That new path turned her into one of the most recognizable figures in golf media. She's hosted FedEx Cup and PGA Tour fan events, partnered with major brands like PointsBet and Blue Tees, and even made a cameo in Happy Gilmore 2 this summer.

Her message to fans was simple: stop being your harshest critic.

"It's time we stop beating ourselves up and start being our own biggest cheerleaders," she said.

Spiranac may not have become an LPGA star, but she's built something else. Namely,  a massive platform, more than 4 million Instagram followers, and a voice that keeps resonating far beyond the fairways.