Paige Spiranac reveals professional golf 'beat me up emotionally' as she opens up on bid to return to playing competitively again

Paige Spiranac has revealed that pro golf used to 'beat' her up so much emotionally that she would equate her score to herself worth, as she opens up on her bid to play competitively once again. 

Spiranac, 31, had a short-lived professional career as a player from 2016-17 before embarking on her social media journey, where she's amassed four million followers on Instagram, months later. 

She played golf for the University of Arizona during her freshman year of college in 2011-12 before transferring to San Diego State for her sophomore year. Her senior season ended with the Aztecs' first Mountain West Conference Championship, which she described as 'one of the greatest moments of my life.' 

Spiranac then embarked on the developmental Cactus Tour in May 2016, as she went onto defeat Hannah O'Sullivan that year, the then top-ranked amateur in the world. It was Spiranac's only tour victory. In August 2016, Spiranac attempted to compete in her first LPGA Qualifying Tournament but didn't earn a card to play on the pro circuit.

Reflecting over her past in a tweet on Monday, weeks after her Masters appearance, Spiranac shared: 'I played junior golf, college golf and a year professionally. After that stretch I mentally couldn't handle playing golf and especially keeping score. I equated my score to my self worth. I know it sounds silly but competitive golf really beat me up emotionally. 

Paige Spiranac played pro golf on the Cactus Tour from 2016-2016. Seen at the 2024 Masters

Spiranac played on the Cactus Tour but has tried competing in a LPGA Qualifying Tournament

'But I've found that passion again!' she continued. 'I've started tracking my scores and grinding on my game. I'll keep you posted here on my journey!'

Spiranac's tweet was shared along with a snap of the Colorado native playing at the Austin Country Club in Texas, where she shot a 73. 

'Such a fun track!' she said about the course on Sunday. 

Last week, Spiranac praised WNBA star Caitlin Clark and LPGA's No. 1 Kelly Korda after both reached new heights in their respective sport. Clark was drafted by the Indiana Fever after becoming the NCAA Div. I's all-time leading scorer, while Korda won her fifth straight title at the Chevon Championship in The Woodlands, Texas.

During the Masters tournament, which she attended earlier this month, Spiranac called out both LIV Golf and the PGA Tour for plunging ratings due to their ongoing conflict as golf's main body. 

The former pro golfer also hit out at Zach Johnson for appearing to tell Masters fans to 'f**k off' after missing a bad putt at Augusta National.