Golf influencer Paige Spiranac condemns Ryder Cup fan behavior
-Instagram.
Golf influencer Paige Spiranac has spoken out against the increasingly toxic behavior of sports fans, criticizing the conduct witnessed during the recent Ryder Cup and calling for a broader cultural shift across all sporting events.
Spiranac, 32, shared her concerns on social media following reports of abusive behavior directed at Team Europe players, including Rory McIlroy and Shane Lowry, during the tournament. Despite the hostile atmosphere, Team Europe managed to secure victory, winning the Ryder Cup for the first time on American soil since 2012. Lowry’s clutch putt helped clinch the title and end a late push from Team USA.
Throwing a drink is absolutely unacceptable. Life ban pic.twitter.com/oAvhtQEz0H
“I’m sadly not shocked by the fan behavior at the Ryder Cup because it’s become the norm at most sporting events,” Spiranac wrote on X, where she has over 1 million followers. “It needs to change across all sports.”
I’m sadly not shocked by the fan behavior at the Ryder Cup because it’s become the norm at most sporting events and in my opinion it needs to change across all sports.
I was at a football game recently and this man in front of me was disgustingly drunk, yelling the most vile…She went on to describe a recent personal experience at a football game, where a man seated in front of her was “disgustingly drunk,” yelling profanities at players and fans, and even trying to instigate fights. What disturbed her most, however, was the man’s young nephew mimicking the behavior, while the family laughed.
“This behavior is taught,” she continued. “You can have passion, chirp, have fun banter, enjoy yourself at the event or game — but there’s a line, and it’s crossed so many times now.”
Her comments were met with strong support from followers, many of whom shared their own frustrations with increasingly unruly fan behavior. One user replied, “Completely agree with you, Paige,” while others called it a widespread issue “across all sports.”
In addition to her comments on fan behavior, Spiranac also criticized the Ryder Cup’s "envelope" rule, which awards a half-point if a player is ruled out due to injury — as happened with Viktor Hovland. She also previously defended U.S. golfer Bryson DeChambeau, who had been labeled a “captain’s nightmare” ahead of the event.