Golfer Lexi Thompson appears topless on the cover of Golf Digest's May issue, and "not so coincidentally, May was also the month Paulina Gretzky posed for the cover" in '14 for "little reason other than her relationship with Dustin Johnson and her attractiveness," according to Chris Chase of USA TODAY. But Golf Digest Chair & Editor-in-Chief Jerry Tarde "says this is different, and it is." Tarde said, "We’ve come a long way from a year ago when the LPGA condemned our choice of Paulina Gretzky (and Holly Sonders in 2013) as the cover images for Golf Digest‘s annual fitness issue. ... You can have stunning beauty and the highest level of golf performance at the same time, as demonstrated this year by Lexi, Stacy Lewis, Cheyenne Woods and Michelle Wie" (USATODAY.com, 4/2). YAHOO SPORTS' Ryan Ballengee noted this is the "first time a pro golfer has appeared on the cover of this fitness-themed issue." The first two issues "drew criticism from the golf community for not featuring LPGA players, as well for the clothes -- or lack thereof -- worn by the featured subjects." But "issues with the cover aside, several other LPGA players are featured in a shoot inside the magazine in a manner that won't ruffle the feathers of as many in golf" (SPORTS.YAHOO.com, 4/2).
BIG DEAL OR NO DEAL? ESPNW.com's Melissa Isaacson wrote Thompson's appearance on the magazine cover is "not a scandal," and it "should not even be a controversy." Golf Digest chose Thompson "because she is known as one of the strongest, fittest players on tour." Isaacson: "I can tell you this decision was all Thompson's, supported by her parents and endorsed by an agent who has known her since she was 9." Blue Giraffe Sports CEO Bobby Kreusler, who reps the now 20-year-old Thompson, said the cover was "designed to create discussion, but we never looked at it as a good way to market some sort of sex appeal." ESPNW.com's Jane McManus wrote, "Breaking news: Golf Digest is using sex to sell another issue." But on the "plus side, they are using an actual golfer this time." It is "one thing for an athlete to take charge of her career and use her beauty to up her profile," but it is "another thing for a magazine to take advantage of an athlete's sexuality to sell a few issues." McManus: "Who is the mastermind here: Thompson or Golf Digest? I'd be more inclined to issue a hearty, 'You go, girl!' if Golf Digest didn't have a history of ignoring the women's game when choosing its covers and didn't stick a jutted-out Paulina Gretzky on a cover last year" (ESPNW.com, 4/2).
