Scantily clad women on glossy magazine covers are common place these days, but that's not stopping people from raising their eyebrows at the latest issue of Golf Digest.
With only a towel draped over her shoulders to cover her bare chest, Lexi Thompson, who plays on the LPGA Tour, stands smirking in the fitness issue, the rest of her golf attire — pants and glove — present.
I landed on the May cover of @GolfDigest ! So pumped to represent fitness & power #GirlPower : http://t.co/ucXw4JTnSmpic.twitter.com/u4ys8WLLyv— Lexi Thompson (@Lexi) April 2, 2015
Though Thomspon, who at 12 years old became the youngest person to qualify for the U.S. Women's Open, supports her cover shoot as "represent[ing] fitness & power," others think it sends the wrong message for a reputable sports magazine.
Wow, @GolfDigest ... I must've missed the issues where Tiger & Jack appeared on the cover like this ... #SMHpic.twitter.com/9GyRrMT43e— Dave Fraser (@d_phrase) April 2, 2015
Golf Digest Embraces The Power Of Men Leering At Boobs: The cover of this month’s issue of Golf Digest feature... http://t.co/oDQSlTgQkV— OLABODE (@bodet4barca) April 2, 2015
@GolfDigest very poor choice to portray women in this manner. Shame on @Lexi as well. Quit tarnishing the game.
— DCOTTIN (@DcottinDoug) April 2, 2015
Sooo, the latest Golf Digest cover is interesting. @AshleyKMayo#OnlyInterestedInTheSwingTips— Tommy Miller (@TMillerGolf) April 2, 2015
Dear Golf Digest make everyone pose topless or nude from now on: http://t.co/tApwltopwupic.twitter.com/NfHgAAUh4Q— SPENCER HALL (@edsbs) April 2, 2015
Whoa Lexi, just whoa... #golf digest #sellintix— Andy roderique (@arod_andy) April 2, 2015
This is how @GolfDigest presents men on the cover pic.twitter.com/rAcPuXejbG— Sarah (@DasGherkin) April 2, 2015
CBS Sports pointed out that Holly Sonders and Paulina Gretzky have also bared a lot of skin for the magazine in past issues.
First it was Holly. Then Paulina. Next is. . . http://t.co/QISQn3O944pic.twitter.com/XlVobAZzGO— Golf Digest (@GolfDigest) April 2, 2015
In a recent interview with ESPN, Thompson's agent Bobby Kreusler said he doesn't "think it's ever a bad thing to let the world know that these are amazing athletes, powerful, strong, athletic but also beautiful.
"I hate to use the word sex appeal, but in my opinion, if it's done in a healthy manner, I don't think it's in any way negative," Kreusler told ESPN, which noted a commercial in which Thompson wore a bikini.
To be fair to Golf Digest and the professional athletic women who have chosen to show some skin for sports magazines, men do it too. Golfer Rory McIlroy appeared in the latest issue of Men's Health magazine showing off his six-pack abs, though this image wasn't the cover.
Let us know what you think of Thompson's cover photo by taking our poll: