Paige Spiranac can flat-out play. The former college standout at Arizona and San Diego State carries a +3.9 handicap index, which means she's better than scratch. But when it comes to choosing a playing partner, her standards have nothing to do with skill. In fact, she'd pick the opposite of a golf snob every single time.
During a recent round with former Peloton instructor Kendall Toole, Spiranac made her stance crystal clear: she refuses to play with a certain type of golfer — the scratch-or-better player who takes the game way too seriously and treats everyone around them like dirt.
"100 times out of 100," Spiranac told Toole, according to the conversation shared on social media, "I'd rather play with someone who's bad but has a great time than someone who's great but a jerk."
It's a philosophy that's shaped her entire approach to the game. Spiranac has spent years around elite-level competitors, and she's seen plenty of that ultra-serious, ego-driven behavior. But now, she's actively cutting those types out of her golf life. "I've been around that a lot," she said. "I'm trying to eliminate those playing partners. I want to have fun and make friends out there."
That fun-first mentality is also why she's become such a polarizing figure in the sport. She's never been one to conform to traditional golf attire, often showing up in tank tops and spandex — a style she developed as a former gymnast who simply wore her workout clothes when she switched to golf because her family couldn't afford a whole new wardrobe.
"I was so comfortable wearing spandex and very little of it because that's just what you wear when you're wearing a leotard and you're competing," she told Sports Illustrated. "When I switched into golf, we were struggling a little bit financially, so I didn't have the luxury to go out and buy a whole new golf-appropriate wardrobe. So, I wore what was in my closet, which was workout clothes."
That approach has rubbed some traditionalists the wrong way, but Spiranac doesn't care. "They'll have really intense discussions over if they should wear shorts or pants or a blade collar or a real collar, and I'm just out here in tank tops or spandex," she said. "People are like, 'What are you doing?' But I love it."
Her social media presence — with millions of followers — has made her one of the most visible figures in golf, often sparking viral moments like her bold gym looks or camo bikini photos. But beyond the glamour, she's using her platform to push a simpler message: golf is supposed to be enjoyable.
So if you're a scratch golfer who acts like a jerk on the course, don't expect an invite from Spiranac. She'd rather tee it up with a 20-handicapper who laughs at their own shanks and buys a round at the turn. That's the kind of round she wants to play — and honestly, who can blame her?
