American golfer and social media sensation Paige Spiranac has revealed she's received death threats and believes she is targeted "for being a woman who dresses differently in a sport dominated by middle-aged men".
The controversial 24-year-old, who has over a million Instagram followers, insists she is more than just a "gimmick", despite being ranked outside the top 1000 and with limited top-level opportunities in the US as a result.
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According to The Sun, Spiranac returned for the Desert Classic in Dubai last week, where promoters took advantage of her celebrity by making her the tournament starter.
The attention from all her videos and photos on Instagram sent her critics on social media into overdrive, however, with Spiranac telling The Guardian: "I was harassed, my family was harassed.
"I was receiving death threats, people were invading my privacy, I was being blackmailed. This was going on while I was trying to play.
"When it comes to the golf industry, I know that people see me as a gimmick. I don't think I am.
"If I was a guy and I had the same social following, I don't think people would call it a gimmick. They'd say it was great.
"People seem to think I got where I am because of the clothes that I wear. That's unfair to me and unfair to all of my accomplishments.
"I probably do more community service than any other professional golfer.
"For people to say: 'You only show some cleavage, that's why you have what you have,' is unfair. That's the injustice that we face every day as women and I see it a lot in golf.
"It's such a male-dominated sport, it has been around for so long and there are traditions.
"People like their traditions without change. When someone comes in wearing leggings instead of trousers, it is like the world is ending.
"I have always had a different fashion style. I always felt like I never belonged and it is tough because I am a good player, I know what to do but I still don't like going to new clubs because I am worried someone will say my skirt is too short or I don't have a collar. Why does that even matter?"
Missing the cut in European Tour events in Dubai in 2015 and 2016 hasn't helped her cause, Spiranac admits.
"I had a really rough go of it both times I was here.
"There was a lot of media, it was really stressful and I found the experience really hard. I said I wasn't coming back to play.
"The people who are saying golf is progressive, if you look at them they all look the same.
"They are all middle-aged men. They obviously feel accepted.
"When you go to a golf course and look around, you see a bunch of guys, everyone looks like you so you are going to feel great.
"If you are walking in as a woman, you don't feel the same."