Paige Spiranac was recently caught in some controversy. She was accused of cheating during a tournament, confronted about it right on the green during match play, and reduced to tears.
Since then, she’s been taking quite a bit of heat. So it’s good to hear some positive news. Some sorely needed good news for the uber-popular golf influencer.
According to Barstool Sports’ Francis Ellis, Spiranac, without any media or publicity, donated her skins earned on Day Two of the event to the Cody “Beef” Franke foundation.
“I found out through a little birdie that when we all got paid our skins money from the second day, which was 15 or 16 thousand each, Paige Spiranac donated all of her skins money to Beef’s family,” Ellis said during an appearance on the “Son Of A Boy Dad” podcast.
Though Paige Spiranac's cheating allegations made all the noise, she quietly did an incredible thing behind the scenes. 👏
— Golf Digest (@GolfDigest) December 2, 2025
Read more: https://t.co/VwHRPKO77K pic.twitter.com/kZ8eCGq1TW
Paige Spiranac and her act of kindness
For those who are math-challenged, which is always possible when your focus is broken by looking at images of Paige, Spiranac donated about $31,000 to the Beef family.
Cody “Beef” Franke was a beloved 31-year-old PGA professional and rising Barstool Sports personality known for his infectious enthusiasm and love for the game of golf.
Franke tragically died from a sudden medical event in October. He was posthumously awarded the championship of Barstool’s $1 million Internet Invitational.
He is widely remembered as one of the nicest, most genuine people you could ever meet.
Beef LOVED his time at Ferris State. Talked about it all the time.
— Riggs (@RiggsBarstool) November 14, 2025
We've worked with the university & Cody's family to setup the Cody "Beef" Franke Scholarship Fund which will help put kids through the PGA Management Program for decades to come. His family will be actively… pic.twitter.com/9kIXJhJ7TT
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Cheating scandal
During the Internet Invitational, a Barstool Sports-sponsored golf tournament featuring 48 influencers competing for a $1 million prize, Paige Spiranac was caught on camera brushing down tall grass in the rough during the final match. The move helped improve the lie for her teammate Malosi Togisala.
Folks, we may have a bit of a controversy on our hands… @Internetinvite pic.twitter.com/X68T1l3jfn
— Fore Play (@ForePlayPod) November 14, 2025
Even the most casual of golfers knows that improving a lie in any manner is a violation of golf rules. You can’t alter the course conditions. How Paige, an accomplished golfer, wouldn’t know that is anybody’s guess.
Opponents confronted her on the 17th green, leading Spiranac to break down in tears as she claimed ignorance of the rule. Paige insisted she had no intent to cheat.
Spiranac’s team ultimately lost the match on the 18th hole. Meaning none of the scandalous actions affected the outcome. But cheating in golf is a big deal. Perhaps more so than in any sport.
Some fans have apparently gotten out of control. Breaking her social media silence last week, Spiranac admitted the mistake, expressed profound embarrassment, and revealed she has received tens of thousands of death threats and vile messages.
“I would never intentionally cheat,” she said. “In all my years of playing golf, I have never been accused of cheating.”
Now she has. And quietly making things right is the only way to make it go away.