Wayne Gretzky's daughter Paulina Gretzky's Golf Digest cover sparked outrage and reignited gender equity debate in golf

Back in April 2014, Golf Digest made headlines—and not for a hole-in-one. The magazine’s choice to feature Paulina Gretzky , the daughter of hockey legend Wayne Gretzky and fiancée of PGA star Dustin Johnson, on its cover stirred up significant backlash from the women’s golf community. Despite not being a professional golfer herself, Gretzky landed the prime spot, igniting a conversation that still resonates today about representation and respect in women’s sports.

A cover that missed the mark for many in women’s golf
Golf Digest positioned the issue as part of its annual fitness edition, showcasing Paulina Gretzky in form-fitting workout wear instead of traditional golf attire. The magazine defended the decision, with editor-in-chief Jerry Tarde saying, “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.”

Dustin Johnson's fiancée Paulina Gretzky lands a Golf Digest cover pic.twitter.com/K4CwWKbNLh

— Darren Rovell (@darrenrovell) April 3, 2014

But that rationale didn’t sit well with several top LPGA players. For them, it wasn’t about Gretzky personally—it was about the message it sent.

"It’s the state of where we’ve always been. We don’t get the respect for being the golfers we are," said then top-ranked golfer Stacy Lewis. “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.”

The frustration wasn’t just about one magazine cover—it highlighted the chronic underrepresentation of female athletes, even within their own sport. Veteran LPGA player Angela Stanford questioned who Golf Digest was really marketing to. “If the answer is men 25 years old through 45 years old, then I guess that’s what they have to do… but the LPGA has some attractive women and very fit women, so why not use them?”

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Though it's been over ten years, Paulina Gretzky’s Golf Digest cover remains a symbol of the gender disparity in sports media. It wasn’t just about aesthetics—it became a flashpoint for the ongoing struggle women face in getting their accomplishments acknowledged over their appearance. For many in the game, the conversation sparked by that 2014 issue is still unfinished.