LPGA NOT IMPRESSED

From the first tee to the last put, it’s about selling for any magazine or publication and that is exactly what Golf Digest did with having the cover with Paulina Gretzky showing her style.

The cover photo is shown on the May issue of Golf Digest has drawn criticism from various critic’s both far and wide, including some of the pros of the LPGA Tour.

Daughter of The Great One” Wayne Gretzky and who is engaged to PGA star player Dustin Johnson is on the cover of the magazine showing her form that she would use prior to teeing off, quite possibly not in a sports bra and workout tights.

The cover just happened to be was released the same week the LPGA happens to be playing its first major event of the season in Rancho Mirage, California – the Kraft Nabisco Championship

Speaking to the New York Times, LPGA player Stacy Lewis expressed disappointment in the cover, saying “it’s frustrating for female golfers. It’s kind of the state of where we’ve always been. We don’t get respect for being the golfers that we are.

“Obviously, Golf Digest is trying to sell magazines. But at the same time you’d like to see a little respect for the women’s game.”

Lewis was asked by the Times if she read the magazine, one of the premier publications in the sport.

“Not much,” she said. “Obviously you see some of the covers; you see things like that.”

Inbee Park, who won three LPGA major titles last season, added, “”That’s just been the way it is for over 20, 30 years.”

Juli Inkster who is a seven-time major winner and as well as a member of the World Golf Hall of Fame, was unimpressed with the photo when she saw it.

“It’s frustrating because it’s Golf Digest; it’s not Sports Illustrated’s swimsuit issue,” Inkster said, adding: “I think they should maybe recognize some of the great women golfers that we have. It’s like, what do you have to do to get a little respect?

“I’m guaranteeing you right now, it was not a woman editor who chose that cover.”

Jerry Tarde, editor-in-chief of the magazine, was asked by the Times for comment on the publication’s choice of putting Gretzky on its cover.

“Sports figures, celebrities and models have appeared on Golf Digest covers since the magazine’s beginning,” said Tarde. “Paulina ranks at the high end of the golf celebrity scene today, and she has a compelling story to tell. She also might get some new people interested in the game.”

It’s called marketing and that is exactly what Golf Digest did, no different when Jay Leno was on the front page of Playboy in the late 90ties.

Tell me the difference between this and German golfer Sandra Gal who has done some modeling, including as part of the “Wilhelmina 7” project. And she’s also walked a few red carpets.