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Jun 25, 2008 10:53 pm US/Central
Model Pros: Women Golfers Mix Sports With Fashion
EDINA, Minn. (WCCO) ―
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Sandra Gal, a golfer who will tee off at the U.S. Women's Open, is also a model.
CBS
Players practiced their swings on the course at Interlachen in Edina before tournament play begins Thursday morning for the U.S. Women's Open.
As these women hope to play their best, an old debate about how to attract fans has a new target. That's after a group of golfers posed for sexy modeling photos.
Recently seven pro players signed with a New York modeling agency hoping to land endorsement deals. Players Sandra Gal and Kim Hall, have both posed for pictures; one shows Hall wearing a bikini.
The top women's player, Lorena Ochoa, feels using glam to bring in fans is OK, but it isn't for her.
"Being feminine always helps, it brings more to the game," said Ochoa. "I like to be recognized for things that I do on the course, like making birdies and breaking records and winning golf tournaments. So it's just different ways to do it."
"I'm against women who are only models and who are not really pros," said golfer Marie Uribe.
The debate isn't a new one. Pro golfer Natalie Gulbis is already well known for her modeling career. While practicing on Wednesday she had a terrible tee shot but fans cheered anyway. Afterward another player admonished the crowd for cheering her on instead of the better golfers.
"These people are athletes. They're not dolls or fashion models," said one fan.
But some pro players insist they can be both.
One issue the players agreed on is that women players need to find a way to boost endorsement deals, which are a small fraction of what their male counterparts are earning.
(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
