Questions Surround Gulbis Decision To Pose With Painted Swimsuit In Swimsuit Issue

**SI complained about the thumbnail posting of the image so I'm going to make sure I'm in compliance by also removing all links here to the content. Wouldn't want to offend anyone!

You can feel the tension as golf.com's Jeff Ritter doesn't back down in questioning the decision to use a body painted swimsuit for Natalie Gulbis's SI Swimsuit issue shoot.

Uh, so yes, that's paint. How do they do paint the part where...oh this can't end well. Just check it out. On newstands this week. Or you can view a full gallery of Gulbis shots here.

Look how Ritter doesn't open with a softball:

This is your first appearance in the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue. You’ve previously modeled in Maxim, FHM, your own calendars … why SI?

I'm going to leave out the answer to that scorcher so you can have the same joy of revelation that I experienced.

Whose idea was it to ditch the bikini in favor of body paint?

This guy is relentless!

As I was walking into the elevator after my first meeting at the SI office in January of last year, I asked them if they had ever body-painted an athlete before, and as the door was closing on the elevator, [senior editor] M.J. Day was like, “No we haven’t. Would you do it?” And I said, “I think so…let me see...I think so!” So, from that, SI came back to me sometime after and said, “O.K., we’ve decided we’re going to body-paint athletes. Does that sound like something you’d like to be a part of?” It was an honor, and it was exciting.

So, again, how do they paint the...eh forget it. Just watch the "making of" video.

Update on Tuesday, February 14, 2012 at 07:22 AM by Geoff

**The answer to the one question Ritter fails miserably in not asking...courtesy of reader Blue Blazer. Go to the filmmaking part.

Comments

[ChampagneTonyLives]

What's the question?

[chicago pt]

an "honor"??? methinks Natalies 15 minutes of fame are almost up....At least Jan Stephenson was a great player

[rb]

those eyes, those teeth, those...

[Carl Spachler]

Playboy is next

[D. maculata]

My eyes are still good, not sure about the heart........pass.

[easy 3 putt]

looks terribly photoshopped...

[Mulligan]

Sorry, but she doesn't do a thing for me.

[Brad Ford]

I dont' see a problem with it.

[Nubi]

Mulligan,

I wonder if it does more if Camilo Villegas posed with body paint . . .

As for me, I think she is . . . gorgeous.

[AK47]

Airbrushed more than bodypainted.

[happy Gilmore]

She looks much better in pictures than in person!
Nice personality though

[gov. lepetomane]

I have examined this closely (It was a chore, but I made the sacrifice) and do not see a great deal of difference of the body paint from the ultra thin, ultra tiny bikini. Additionally, I do not see much difference from straight nudity sans paint. One can appreciate the same characteristics with any of the 3 approaches.

With respect to the modeling, if Natalie wishes to market herself maximally (pun not intended) she must do this. Even if she is a frequent winner on the LPGA Tour her recognition will be very limited. It is simply not a relatively popular sport when compared with other televised pro golf. Example: Geoff posted something on the Korda lady winning last week. Some 12 hours later there was one comment written. I just checked the thread. After 48+ hours, a grand total of 3 comments appear - obviously, either not of much interest or not controversial or both. If Natalie views her earning power through fame, i.e., how well she is known,and if she can't act/sing/kick 60 yard field goals, she has to do things like the SI Swimsuit issue.

I don't begrudge the professional models who have become well known through the annual titillating (pun intended) SI offering, and I certainly don't begrudge Natalie. She is marketing her most marketable qualities, and they won't last forever.

[Ky Laffoon's Ghost]

She looks fine to me! Isn't this the person who visited DJ in Hawaii, even though he said they "weren't dating"? Idjit.

[Jesse]

Why, Mr. Mulligan, is it important to you that everyone knows you don't find her attractive? Curious

[kafka01]

At least the LPGA girls keep fit all year by playing golf, just so that they can pose nude at every beginning of the new season. But after all the calenders are out and photoshoots are over, its basically offseason. Already looking forward to next year! So long - keep in shape :)

[ChampagneTonyLives]

Watching the video (thanks for the link Geoff) ... it seems like Natalie is just a nice person, seems fun to be around. The video also shows just what was airbrushed out of the magazine print. I was wondering where those went.

[sgolfer]

If the pic is just her wearing bodypaint, what happened to her nipples? (in addition to a lack of some other frontal details).

If they feel they need to airbrush things after the bodypaint photos were taken, then this just doesn't count for much.

[ChampagneTonyLives]

@sgolfer -

Check the video. :) They airbrushed 'dem badboys right out of there. Puritans read SI Swimsuit Edition you know.

[Dr. Drew]

I paint my nipples all the time - it rarely shows in the photos.
No photoshop here.

[kafka01]

When you look for the nipples you have to watch the video ;)

[Jaybrit]

Thanks for the link that explains how they hid the cameltoe.

[rb]

Will Christina Kim be next?

[John Morris]

Tommy Peter Kostis made the same point over a year ago, thats when I went to my own name. There are lots of John Morris' so I,m almost anonymous.
Thanks
John

[ChampagneTonyLives]

John Morris is a helluva curler.


-ChampagneTonyLives (Rob Berney - Edmonton, AB: huge Lema fan, huge video production geek, golf video game geek, wannabe golf production savior and overall smartarse)

[jaybrit]

Christina Kim?.......they will need a lot more moleskin for that :)

[Brad Ford]

rb - Christina Kim was nekkid in the ESPN the Magazine "Bodies" issue.

[Mike T.]

She's fit, attractive and can play a little golf. I hope she enjoys the hell out of it for a long time.

[Robert Matre]

Tommy, I'm posting here under my real name, but there are so many Robert Matres out there so I will also retain some anonymity. I will go out on a limb and on record as saying that Natalie is fine looking gal, and by all accounts a genuinely nice person. The body paint just seems to be a way to get attention for this feature as a novelty, but the heavy airbrushing of the images sort of lessen the effect. I don't necessarily doubt her credentials as a player as many would. I may stand to be corrected, but I believe she spent some time with a high ranking, played for her country in a Solheim Cup or two, and actually won one of the LPGA's bigger tournaments. I haven't seen her name on a leaderboard in a while, so I'm guessing her game is in decline. If she can't make an impact with her game, I don't mind her efforts to remain relevant as a golf personality.

[jaybrit]

Too bad they couldnt recruit Creamer , Wie and Gal for this body painting shoot .

[ChampagneTonyLives]

@Robert Matre -

Have you had a chance to check out the "Art of Golf" exhibit? :)

[benseattle]

As outlandish as it sounds, I suppose one reason many of us post under a pseudonym is that because we all know there are various levels of mental derangement, there exists a chance (however small) that some nutbag could take umbrage at a "controversial" post and begin hassling the writer. Phone calls at home, drive-bys, drop-ins at work even.... anything is possible.

Still, I do fully agree that the anonymity of the internet has created a sub-class of society, the Anonymous Hater who cares not who he attempts to hurt or slander or berate, just as long as he gets in his two worthless cents. More boards should be strictly moderated.

Yours,

Fogroller

[Chip Gaskins]

make a living while you can, i say.... as with golf earnings, marketing endorsements, whatever...its all fleeting. live and let live

[Ky Laffoon's Ghost]

Not my own name, but at least 5 Shackelfordians on this thread plus about 10 others know who I am. Geoff runs a clean show that approaches the edge once in a while.

Any normal human being who can't appreciate a beautiful human form like the one under, um, discussion is, to use the technical term, nuts. A3 has the right idea anyway. LOL.

Robert: Look forward to visiting your gallery when I come see the exhibit at the High. Do you keep regular hours?

[rb]

"Christina Kim was nekkid in the ESPN the Magazine "Bodies" issue. "

They must have used a "wide angle" lens.

[Goose]

It's not a big deal. (However, I don't find her attractive.)

[dbh]

I have no problems with people posting under a pseudonym, obviously.
I think it's a positive thing overall. It encourages anyone to participate on the site.
There'll always be the odd drive by doofus (see above).
Just post under one handle. Multiple handles, whether to defame another poster or to work in some snark, I am not down with...and zero tolerance for them.

[cottriab]

Was Laura Davies' too busy?

[Del the Funk]

Pretty much looked like a 12 fairway, 18 green, 9-under par performance, to me. Good on'er...

[rb]

I can't post under my real name...I'm WANTED in three states.

[Kevin]

Jaybrit
What's a cameltoe??? And how dare you say that word without giving us your full name.