Paulina Gretzky News 2014: The daughter of hockey great Wayne Gretzky and actress Janet Jones, goes through her poses while consulting with the crew for the photo shoot for the May issue of Golf Digest.

The publication annoyed some LPGA players by putting Paulina Gretzky on its cover.

"Paulina ranks at the high end of the golf celebrity scene today, and she has a compelling story to tell," he said in a statement. "She also might get some new people interested in the game," Golf Digest Editor-in-Chief Jerry Tarde defended her.

The magazine's intro to her Q&A likely won't appease critics who questioned her golf cred. "We'll be honest. It'd be a stretch to call Paulina Gretzky an avid golfer or fitness fanatic," the piece begins, Huff Post Sports reported.

The model tells the magazine that golf doesn't come naturally to her. She said, "I didn't appreciate golf as much when I was little. My mom has a video of me when I was really young where I'm saying, 'Daddy, don't go play golf anymore."

Even she doesn't show natural affection for golf, Gretzky is engaged to PGA star Dustin Johnson.

"I'll go with him to the range every once in a while, but mostly I just love being with him and watching him play," she said.

Gretzky's landing on the cover of Golf Digest brought dismay to some members of the Ladies Professional Golf Association, choosing Gretzky indicates that a female pro golfer is getting overlooked.

According to USA Today, Stacy Lewis, a top-ranked American golfer, has told press, "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."

According to CNN, 'Gretzky discusses her involvement in the sport and demonstrates six golf-improvement exercises. On the cover and in two of the photos used to promote the issue, which is available via tablet starting April 8 and from newsstands starting April 15, she doesn't wear the typical golf attire but rather fitted workout pants and a sports bra.'

Business Insider reported that Juli Inkster told the New York Times that she understands the decision, but is still frustrated by it:

"It's frustrating because it's Golf Digest; it's not Sports Illustrated's swimsuit issue. I think they should maybe recognize some of the great women golfers that we have. It's like, What do you have to do to get a little respect? I'm guaranteeing you right now, it was not a woman editor who chose that cover."

In an interview with USA Today, Inbee Park, one of the most dominant athletes alive said that that will never:

"That's just been the way it is for over 20, 30 years. We are trying to get closer to the guys (in popularity), but obviously we are never going to get there. That's for sure. The LPGA is getting better and better."

Angela Stanford told USA Today that she thinks that there were sufficient number of options if the magazine wanted to put a female golfer on the cover, "But the LPGA has some attractive women and very fit women, so why not use them? I'm just baffled by it."