Paige Spiranac out to prove she’s more than just a social media sensation

This content was originally posted in 7DAYS UAE website at: Paige Spiranac out to prove she’s more than just a social media sensation Amid a deluge of interviews at Emirates Golf Club, American ace Paige Spiranac has a sudden realisation – her professional golf career has officially begun. “I’m here right now thinking should I actually be here, but I guess now it’s my career. That’s actually the first time I have thought of it like that,” Spiranac tells 7DAYS. Perhaps that statement isn’t quite as surprising as you would expect. It has been a whirlwind ride for the 22-year-old who first came to the attention of the golfing world thanks to her huge following on social media. With 469,000 followers on Instagam and more than 50,000 on Twitter, Spiranac is a marketing dream. But she is also desperate to make headlines on the golf course. “I played college golf at San Diego State and had a good junior career, but I wasn’t sure whether I ever wanted to pick the clubs up again after my final college tournament,” she explains. “But I realised how much I love the game and I have worked really hard for this. “With Instagram you only see the highlights of my life, you don’t see the blood, sweat and tears that I put into golf. “So I’m just hoping I can stay cool, calm and collected out there and perform well.” Spiranac also admitted that she is feeling the nerves as she prepares to made her debut on the Ladies European Tour in the Dubai Masters this weekend. “It’s been a week of firsts for me. All of these girls know each other and I don’t know anyone, plus I’ve never even been out of America before,” says Spiranac. “I’m honestly just trying to make sure I’m not sick when I get to the first tee. I put a lot of pressure on myself and I think that’s why I get so nervous, because I do love golf so much. It is my life.” There is a weight of expectation on Spiranac to deliver on the golf course thanks to her ability to reach so many fans. But she remains realistic as to what a successful career in might be. She adds: “I may or may not reach people’s expectation, but that is okay. “A lot of people message telling me that they want to get into golf now. So if my legacy is that a couple more people play golf then I think that is a success.” Read the original story at: Paige Spiranac out to prove she’s more than just a social media sensation