Paige Spiranac Blames the Internet for U.S. Open Heckling: “People Have Become Downright Nasty”

Golf influencer Paige Spiranac disagrees with the popular theories regarding the origin of hecklers at the 2026 U.S. Open. She considers the rude fans to reflect a general trend of cultural decay rather than a phenomenon peculiar to New York fans or to the sport’s growing popularity.

During the play, people at Shinnecock Hills heckled leader Wyndham Clark with phrases such as “Don’t choke,” and some of the hecklers were removed by the police officers.

Spiranac dismissed the claim that the rudeness was due to the local atmosphere or the growing interest in golf.

“I don’t think the behavior at the U.S. Open has anything to do with New York or the growth of golf. There has been a shift in recent years where people have become downright nasty. Maybe it’s exhaustion from life beating us all down or the lack of consequences of being hateful online. But it’s noticeable. I just feel everything online is negative and when you’re in that headspace 24/7 it bleeds into your real life,” she wrote.

Most comments on Spiranac’s post agreed with her theory that social media fosters acceptance of rudeness. Some fans, however, suggested that the culture of New York sports contributes to making noise heard at the U.S. Open and Ryder Cup tournaments.

“Paige, I agree with you. The moral arc of the universe is long, but it bends toward justice. Unfortunately, the moral arc of the internet is much shorter and bends the other way,” one of the commentators wrote.

The debate generated some hostility. “You flaunt your tits for views. You could have just played good golf and gotten recognition. Instead, you had to be a wh*re and take advantage of perverts for money. Stop mentioning shift when you are part of the problem yourself. You attracted weirdoes to the game. Nice going,” he continued in a similar vein.

Other people, on the other hand, sided with her. “@PaigeSpiranac, that’s why I follow you, you are always so positive. Really appreciate your positiveness when there’s so much negativity online,” the last commentator wrote.