Female golfing sensation Paige Spiranac has revealed that she received death threats over her cleavage-bearing outfits after a controversial appearance at the Dubai Masters in 2015.
Spiranac, 24, is not ranked within the top 1,000 in the world for her sport but was invited to play in the Dubai’s Ladies European Tour events in 2015.
The invitation sparked outrage among fans because of her low rank.
Critics suggested she had only been asked to attend because of her enormous Instagram following which today stands at 1.2million. They also pointed to her skimpy outfits and figure.
Their complaints made headlines at the time but in an interview with The Guardian this week, Spiranac told how the scandal took a more sinister turn in private.
Golfer Paige Spiranac says she received death threats over her cleavage-bearing outfits after her controversial appearance at the 2015 Dubai Masters
‘I was harassed, my family was harassed.
‘I was receiving death threats, people were invading my privacy, I was being blackmailed. This was going on whilst I was trying to play,’ she said.
Spiranac, who is from Wheat Ridge, Colorado, said she was angry about the reaction to her appearance and the suggestion that it is what won her an invitation to the tournament.
‘People seem to think I got where I am because of the clothes that I wear.
‘That’s unfair to me and unfair to all of my accomplishments.
Paige was criticised in 2015 when she was invited to play at the Dubai Ladies’ European events with a relatively low rank in the sport. Critics said she was invited only for her looks and skimpy outfits – something she takes great offense to
The 24-year-old describes herself as a ‘rising golf talent’ and influencer who promotes anti-bullying and women’s causes. She has 1.2million followers on Instagram but is not ranked by the LPGA
‘I probably do more community service than any other professional golfer.
‘For people to say: “You only show some cleavage, that’s why you have what you have,” is unfair.
‘That’s the injustice that we face every day as women and I see it a lot in golf.’
She wants the sport to become more progressive and believes its strict dress code is outdated.
‘It’s such a male-dominated sport, it has been around for so long and there are traditions. People like their traditions without change.
‘When someone comes in wearing leggings instead of trousers, it is like the world is ending.
Spiranac says she is on a mission to change the sport to make it more accepting of leggings and skirts instead of old fashioned trousers
‘I dress differently, I don’t conform to what golf is supposed to be.
‘I love golf, I think it is a great game but I think there are a lot of things that need to change.
‘I think it needs to become more progressive, more inclusive,’ she said.
Spiranac returned to Dubai last month for the Omega Desert Classic and was the first female starter.
Later, she hosted Instagram coverage of the event with One Direction’s Niall Horan and golfing talent Rory McIlroy.
Spiranac returned to Dubai this week to play in the Omega Dubai Desert Classic. She hosted Instagram coverage with Rory McIlroy