The LPGA have slammed the cover of the most recent issue of Gold Digest magazine, because it rather gratuitously features a scantily-clad Paulina Gretzky - daughter of ice hockey legend Wayne Gretzky and fiancée of PGA Tour star Dustin Johnson.
Aside from her family connections, golfing novice Gretzky has shot to prominence largely on the back of her Instagram acc... hey, get the fuck back here.
World number one Inbee Park, who won three women's majors last year has never featured on the cover of Golf Digest. In fact, the last three women to appear there weren’t professional golfers at all. Holly Sonders of the Golf Channel was on the cover of the fitness issue a year ago, while Kate Upton was on the cover with Arnold Palmer in the December issue.
Two-time major winner Stacey Lewis told The New York Times: “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.”
Hall of Famer Juli Inkster also expressed disapproval.
“It’s frustrating because it’s Golf Digest, it’s not Sports Illustrated’s swimsuit issue,” Inkster told the same paper. “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.”
Editor of Golf Digest Jerry Tarde defended the choice to feature Gretzky on the 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.”
Sure Jerry, whatever. Paulina Gretzky might not be a totally arbitrary choice of cover story subject, but try telling that to Inbee Park and co.
