“Tiger Woods is one of the GOATs…Potential Olivia Dunne collab”: Paige Spiranac talks about mental health, her move to Passes, and more 

 

 

“Tiger Woods is one of the GOATs…Potential Olivia Dunne collab”: Paige Spiranac talks about mental health, her move to Passes, and more

By

Tanmay Khanna

Modified Jul 23, 2024 07:39 GMT

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Paige Spiranac has been the Tiger Woods of Golf influencers — such has been her influence in promoting the great game of Golf. The Colorado-born former professional golfer recently announced her switch to Passes, joining the likes of other superstars such as Olivia Dunne, Shaquille O’Neal, and more. We sat down with Paige Spiranac to discuss her switch from OnlyPaige, tips and tricks for young golfers, mental health, and more.

OnlyPaige to Passes: Paige Spiranac ever motivated to give back to the fans who supported her through thick and thin

Tanmay: Can you give a brief about Passes and how it differs from your OnlyPaige content?Paige Spiranac: “So I had a subscription site previously, and I loved it. And I loved the way that I could connect with people who have been following me for such a long time. But I was looking for more. I kind of just built that site as I was going, and I just felt like from a user experience it could be enhanced. And so I started looking around and I was blown away when I found Passes, and they had every single feature that I was looking for. So the jump was actually quite easy for me to switch over, and I knew that everyone who was a subscriber before was going to love it so much more. And that’s been the feedback that I have been getting, is that they love it. They’re able to connect with me in so many different ways. The technology is better, it’s easier for me as a creator, so it’s been incredible so far.”

Tanmay: Could you, like, give one major or big difference between how you used to shoot content for OnlyPaige and how different it is when you’re shooting for Passes?Paige Spiranac: “I would say the biggest thing is that I am able to talk directly with my subscribers now, which previously I wasn’t able to do. And I’m also not having to work on the back end. Everyone on Passes is so helpful. And so it’s been great where if any problem does arise that they fix something so quickly and they can help me with new ideas. Now I can focus all of my time on creating content, putting out more stuff daily and connecting with my subscribers. And, so they really do such a great job by putting the creator first where before I was kind of on an island by myself trying to figure it out.

“Now that I do have people who are so incredible and the technology is amazing and it’s fast, and I’m able to live stream from my phone. I can direct message my subscribers and I can just share content instantly. So it just made the process so much easier and I can be more creative, I can be faster with what I upload, and I think it’s just really enhanced the user experience.”

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Tanmay: How did your partnership with Passes come about, and what drew you to collaborate with them?Paige Spiranac: “Yeah, so I was, again, I previously had a subscription site, and so I was looking around at different alternative sites that might be a good place because I just knew I wanted to move. I just wanted to find the perfect place. And what I found is that there weren’t actually a lot of platforms that catered to the creator and also had all of the features that I was looking for. Some are more based on video and some specialize more in pictures. And then there are also sites that are known for certain things that maybe I didn’t feel quite comfortable with.

“So when I was looking around and I found Passes, I just knew right away that it was a perfect fit for me for how I wanted to build my subscriber business, and it just happened organically. I also saw that they were signing a bunch of other creators as well as people that I was a fan of. And so it just seemed like all around a win-win and a perfect fit. And once I talked to the whole team, I knew that it was going to be perfect.”

Tanmay: Just from the point of view of your followers and the golf community in general, what is something unique about Passes that makes you believe that it’s a valuable resource?Paige Spiranac: “I feel like on my other social platforms, at times I have to be, I think, more conscious about what I post and where I post it. But on Passes, I’m able to post whatever I want and I have full creative freedom to just really be cheeky and fun and really just lean into having a good time. I believe that social media should be fun. And sometimes on social media, there is so much pressure out there to put up certain types of posts and so on Passes. Now I’m able to be really creative and it’s been very freeing for me.

“Another thing is also direct messaging where people can now ask me for swing tips. We can do lessons. Like we’re always trying to think of new things too, to enhance the experience. But the fact that they can just come to me and they’re like, I need help with my slice, I can tell them exactly and I can help them out. And it’s not just like sometimes on other social platforms, they’ll reach out and they will ask a question, and then unfortunately, it gets lost in the mix.

“But now I stay updated on how it’s going. And it’s been really fun to hear about their rounds of golf and what they’re doing during their day and really be able to connect on a deeper level than just kind of I’m posting something and I might see their comment or I might not. Now I’m really starting to get to know the people who have supported me and who have followed me for years, and that’s been really special because that’s been something that’s been so important is building those relationships. I’ve always seen my followers not as followers, but more as friends because they’ve been through a lot of ups and downs in my life with me, and so now that I’m able to get to know them better has been really special.”

Paige teases potential collab with other superstars like Livvy Dunne

Tanmay: We saw you shoot with Bryson DeChambeau a while ago. You and Bryson collaborated to make a YT video. Are there any future collaborations or projects with Passes that we can expect?Paige Spiranac: “I hope so. I have a lot of friends who are interested in keeping my fingers crossed that we can make something really cool happen. I know that we’ve been working on a bunch of collaborations, and Livvy Dunn is also on Passes, and we’ve been talking back and forth about maybe doing some content collaboration together on Passes, which I think everyone would love. And he would have a lot of fun doing it because he is literally the best and so much fun. We got to connect during the Sports Illustrated swimsuit launch, and we were saying how much fun it would be to shoot content together.”

Tanmay: What is your long-term vision for your partnership with Passes, and how do you see it evolving?Paige Spiranac: “I think the one thing that’s really cool about Passes is the team and how willing and excited they are to continue to grow the platform and to add in new tools, and they’ve been really receptive to crazy ideas that I might have and how we can implement it into really enhancing these experience. So, it has been so amazing working with them and it feels like there are no limits and we can do and build whatever we want. And I think that’s been so exciting for me because again, nurturing this group of subscribers and followers and people who have been so supportive for such a long time, I just want to make sure that I can continue to grow this and provide so much value.

“That’s just the goal, to keep nurturing every single day. I think sometimes, it is easy to come in hot and you’re so excited about in the beginning, but it’s keeping that enthusiasm from day one into a year, two years, three… my main priority right now is being able to just do the best I possibly can, working so hard and creating amazing content for them, getting to know them better. And the great thing, too, about getting to know them better is that they are always willing to give feedback and I always ask them for suggestions. So what my subscribers want and what they’re looking for, and then it’s up to me to, you know, give that feedback back to the team and see if we can build it and make it even better.”

“I owe everything to social media”: Paige Spiranac

Tanmay: Coming to social media, obviously it has played a big part in your career. How do you think it has influenced your career in golf and beyond?Paige Spiranac: “I owe everything to social media professionally and personally. I wouldn’t be able to do what I do every single day if it wasn’t for social media. And I know that sometimes there’s some negativity around social media, and I really don’t see much of that. Of course, you get criticism here and there, but there has been such a loyal group of people who give me love and support every single day, and that’s empowered me to try different things professionally in my career and to grow, personally, to always be the best person that I can be.

“I can’t say enough good things about social media and where it’s taking me and the people that I have met and how it has forced me to, you know, get thicker skin and grow up and just see the world differently. And all of that’s available if you have an open mind and you’re able to use social media in a positive way.”Tanmay: Talking about thick skin, what were some of the biggest challenges that you faced during your golfing career? And what were some of the tricks or tips that you used to overcome those challenges?

Paige Spiranac: So, I mean, golf is a very mental game where they always say that it’s the game’s play between your ears, and I always struggled with that aspect. So when I was playing professionally, I was doing media work to support my golf career financially and so I was getting a lot of criticism online because of the brand that I built. At that time in my life, I wasn’t mature enough to handle the criticism. I also just had a very complicated relationship with golf where my self-worth was tied into how I was shooting. And so when you’re feeling that way, plus you’re getting criticism online, I just had to step back.

“At the beginning of my career, I blamed it on the people who were criticizing me, but I realized that it was all coming from within, and I was insecure about my golf abilities, my career, and just things in my life.”

“So, I’ve done a lot of self-work to love myself and to be proud of who I am. Once I started to really own that and love myself, really understand who I am, then the criticism didn’t hurt that bad anymore because I knew who I was. So I would say that the biggest tip I can give anyone who is dealing with criticism online or in person is that it needs to come from within. You need to love yourself, and you need to do the work behind the scenes to find true happiness.

“It’s tough and it’s not fun, but it is so worth it in the end. And there are a lot of resources out there for people if they want to seek therapy or if they want to work out. I mean, there’s so many things that people can do to just make themselves, you know, feel better, find who they are, and so just explore that. And I think that’s the biggest thing, is just find out who you are and what makes you happy and then go from there.”

Golf and Mental Health: Discussing Grayson Murray, PGA’s work to support the initiative, and more

Tanmay: We lost Grayson Murray this year due to suicide. I just wanted to ask you, given you have previously talked about your mental health struggles as an upcoming golfer, do you think it is something that needs to be addressed in the junior and the senior golf system right now as well?

Paige Spiranac: 100%. What happened with Grayson Murray is so incredibly sad. He was someone that I grew up playing junior golf with and who I knew. And he was such a kind person, but he was struggling. And a lot of us knew who he was. And I know he was doing the work to get better. But I feel like a lot of kids, especially when it comes to sports, that they’re thrown into this highly competitive environment at such a young age. And you are supposed to seek perfection.

“You’re supposed to win. And your self-worth gets tied into your accomplishments, which can be a lot when you play junior golf or competitive sports through your entire adolescence into college, and then even after that, professionally, that it’s just a lot to handle. Not only that, you’re always having to balance living life and now having to live life online. There are just so many pressures out there that I think that everyone should have access to help, whatever that may be. But it does need to be talked about. It needs to be addressed.

“I am hopeful that people will continue to have these conversations. We have seen a lot of athletes recently come out and speak about their anxiety, depression, or other mental health issues that they have struggled with, and I think those conversations are so incredibly important. I’m glad that it’s getting designated that people now are able to have those conversations where before you were seen as an athlete if you ever showed any weakness that you were beatable and that you were never supposed to act, have any, be a human.

“Now you’re allowed to have emotions and have feelings, and you’re dealing with all of these really big feelings on such a big stage for a lot of these athletes that it’s really courageous of them to step forward and have these discussions. And I think it’s going to help the youth.”Tanmay: Do you think the PGA should maybe take a step and try and help junior as well as senior golfers?

Paige Spiranac: “I think that the PGA Tour is doing a lot behind the scenes that maybe isn’t public. I don’t know exactly what action they’re taking, but I have heard from others that this is also really important to them, and they’re big supporters of the first tee, which gets kids into the game of golf, which is a really great sport to get into as a way to decompress. So they are doing a lot. I think that this is obviously a very difficult and complicated issue that you can’t solve in one day.

“It starts with those first steps. And from what I’ve seen everyone is taking those steps because I think now, because of all of the athletes that are coming out and all of the stories and just the struggles of being online, that everyone is doing what they can to help alleviate the situation and to make it better. So I’m hopeful that, everyone is taking a step in the right direction.”

Paige Spiranac’s tips for upcoming golfers and young women

Tanmay: What are some key pieces of advice that you would give to aspiring golfers, particularly young women? You recently posted a video about women with bigger chests and the struggles that they have. So, what about some advice to aspiring golfers, particularly those who are women?Paige Spiranac: “Golf can be a really intimidating game. And when you go to the golf course for the first time, especially if you don’t look like a lot of people that are there, it can be unbelievably intimidating. So my advice is to just stick with it and at first, go to some public golf courses. I found golfers at public golf courses to be incredibly kind. It’s more laid back. It’s just a more calm environment when you’re first starting and you don’t feel like you’re breaking any rules or anyone’s watching you.

“There’s a misconception that golf is stuffy and conservative, and it’s really not. You just have to find the right community. And so that’s the most important thing. There are a lot of clinics out there where you can go and meet new people and learn the game. There’s also instructions online that you can get some helpful tips if you’re new. You also don’t have to spend a lot of money out of the gate. You can get secondhand clubs. I recommend just getting a wedge, a seven iron, and maybe a driver to start out. And then once you decide if you like it or not, then you can invest in other clubs.

“Same with clothing. You don’t have to invest in a whole new wardrobe. You can find things in your closet that you can go out to, a public driving range, or leggings and a tank top. And so finding your place where you feel comfortable going with friends, making it a really fun activity is always great. When juniors start to get a little bit more competitive, I always tell parents to have them compete. That’s really important, but make it fun — so, fun little games where you’re playing for ice cream or dollar or have something on the line. And so they get used to that type of competition, but just make it really fun where they don’t associate competition with any negative feelings right off the bat.

“Parents who do that, come back and have positive reactions to that. So again, just know that it’s going to be tough to try something new, to start something new. And it’s not easy not being good at something. But I would say just keep, keep at it, keep pushing through it. Go with your friends. Make it fun. Find a public golf course. And that’s my advice.”

Who is among Paige’s GOATs? Unsurprisingly, it’s Tiger Woods

Tanmay: If you had to play one round with a famous golfer, who would you choose to play with?

Paige Spiranac: “This is a boring answer because I feel like everyone’s gonna say this, but Tiger Woods. Obviously, he’s one of the greatest of all time. It would just be so cool to play a full round of golf with him.

 

I got a chipping lesson from him once, and the information that he gave me in, like, two minutes about my chipping (was insane). So I can’t imagine what you would learn by just watching him play for an entire round of golf.

“I think it’d be really special.”

Nelly Korda vs Scottie Scheffler – Who wins?

Tanmay: Nelly Korda has been playing some stunning golf this season. We’ve all seen her dominate at the start of the season. I think the coverage around the LPGA Tour is still not what it should be. Do you think the tour should arrange a Nelly Korda and Scottie Scheffler match just to see if they can try and boost LPGA viewership in the process, as well as give some entertainment to the viewers?

Paige Spiranac: “100%. I think I tweeted that out a while ago where I said we should play against each other because it would be so great for women’s golf. I think women’s sports is in a really interesting position right now and there’s just so many interesting conversations right now about female athletes. And then you have Nelly Korda, who is having an all-time year.

“I don’t feel like her name is being discussed at the same level as some of these other athletes.”

“I don’t know exactly why it comes down to the marketing from the LPGA side, but she should be one of the most discussed athletes, men or women, this year because of the incredible season that she is having. Anytime I think that you can bring more eyes to women’s golf and women’s sports in general, it’s great. I would love to see a lot of the female athletes in golf utilize social media a little bit more. I think that we have seen that with Bryson DeChambeau, where his brand and image have taken a complete 180 because he’s been utilizing YouTube and social media, and people can see his personality.”Once people see the incredible athletes that they are, but more importantly, how good of people they are, and they’re interesting and they’re funny and they could hit the absolute crap out of a golf ball, to get more eyes on them, I know people will be addicted to LPGA golf because they’re just absolutely incredible. I don’t think people realize how good they truly are and I think there are so many way