Paulina Gretzky, Wayne Gretzky’s daughter and professional golfer Dustin Johnson’s fiancé, recently had her photoshoot for Golf Digest’s May fitness issue

Paulina Gretsky To Cover ‘Golf Digest’

Though Gretzky is Golf Digest‘s latest cover girl, she hasn’t always been all that fond of the sport. “I didn’t appreciate golf as much when I was little,” she told the magazine. “My mom has a video of me when I was really young where I’m saying, ‘Daddy, don’t go play golf anymore.'” Now that she’s dating a golf pro, however, Gretzky has a greater appreciation for the game.

“I’ll go with [Dustin] to the range every once in a while, but mostly I just love being with him and watching him play,” she admitted.

As for her own growing fame in the golf world, Gretzky credits an Instagram video she uploaded a few months ago in which she’s shown taking a steady swing on a green.

“Shortly after [the video], TaylorMade called to ask if I’d do a commercial,” Gretzky revealed. “And now I’m getting this opportunity with Golf Digest. I should have listened to my mom and become [sic] a golfer.”

Many people are taking exception with Gretzy’s Golf Digest cover, in part because a female golfer hasn’t graced the magazine’s cover since 2008 when Lorena Ochoa landed the spot. Olympian Lolo Jones, known for her candor, tweeted, “Golf Digest pulled a page right off the Kim K Vogue issue.”

In response to the backlash, Golf Digest‘s editor-in-chief Jerry Tarde has released a statement in its defense.

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

– Chelsea Regan