Paulina’s pose annoys LPGA stars

April 4, 2014: The provocative pose by Paulina Gretzky in the cover page of upcoming issue of Golf Digest has not gone well with the LPGA stars.

Gretzky, who is engaged to PGA Tour star Dustin Johnson is a daughter of hockey icon Wayne Gretzky and former actress Janet Jones Gretzky. Paulina will be demonstratings six golf-improvement exercises for the issue and talks about her connections in the sports world. A tablet edition is available April 8, while the magazine hits newsstands on April 15, an USA Today report said.

The last three women to appear on the cover have been Golf Channel anchor and personality Holly Sonders (May 2013), Sports Illustrated swimsuit issue cover girl Kate Upton, who appeared with Arnold Palmer (December 2013), and Gretzky. Lorena Ochoa was the last player to appear on the cover – in 2008. However, Paulina not being a golfer herself, has annoyed many pro golfers.

Stacy Lewis, the top-ranked American at No. 3 in the world, was asked by a New York Times reporter what she thought of the choice.

“It’s frustrating for female golfers,” Lewis told reporters. “It’s the state of where we’ve always been. We don’t get the respect for being the golfers we are. Obviously, Golf Digest is trying to sell magazines, but at the same time you like to see a little respect for the women’s game.”

Angela Stanford agreed. The veteran from Texas has been playing golf on a professional level since 1990 but wasn’t surprised when told of the Gretzky cover.

“The question is who are they trying to sell to?” Stanford said. “If the answer is men 25 years old through 45 years old, then I guess that’s what they have to do. You know the old saying, sex sells. And nobody can argue with that. It’s just the way it is. But the LPGA has some attractive women and very fit women, so why not use them? I’m just baffled by it.”