Despite never having teed up in a professional event, twenty-two year old Paige Spirinac will make her debut tomorrow under intense media scrutiny. But who is she?


Omega Dubai Ladies Masters, LET

Few women golfers have ever divided opinion like Paige Spiranac, particularly considering that the American is yet to even make her professional debut.

When the American tee's up tomorrow at the the Omega Dubai Ladies Masters however there's no doubt much focus will be given to how she performs in the season-concluding event on the Ladies European Tour.

If your not sure who the American is, you may well be in the minority. The social media phenomenon has already amassed 469,000 followers on Instagram, an astonishing number when compared to the likes of Lexi Thompson (108,000), Lydia Ko (38,700) and Charley Hull (12,000). 

She first hit the spotlight in February when San Diego State University released the below trick shot video, which quickly went viral.

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Since then Spiranac has become well-known online for her stunning good looks and trick shots, which has helped her to secure a deal with Callaway despite not yet having a place on a professional tour. 

Whilst her fashion sense and social media antics may have given rise to Spiranac's fame, she has genuine golfing talent, too, having graduated this year from San Diego State University, where she was an integral component of their successful college golf team.

She turned pro in August, expedited, admittedly, by her fast-expanding profile, and has dreams of joining the LPGA Tour.

However, Paige is yet to amass universal support, with some criticising her soaring celebrity and for attracting the wrong sort of attention to the women's game. When asked in her press conference the 22 year old acknowledged that she wouldn't be in Dubai if not for her social media profile.

'I understand where they’re coming from,' she said. 'Yes, I’ve played golf and had good results, but when you look at my game compared to the top players in the world, I’m not in the same league. They do have a right to say, ‘Yeah, she’s not on tour’, because I’m not. I just turned pro and this is all new.'

Spirinac's fame however, has obviously not stretched as far as Dame Laura Davies.

'I don’t know her from a bar of soap,' Davies said in today's press conference. 'I really don’t.'

Dubai offers Spirinac the perfect opportunity to silence her doubters and earn a reputation for herself as a talented golfer and not just for social media exploits. 

Image- Getty Images