Lexi Thompson: 20-Year-Old LPGA Star Appears Topless On ‘Golf Digest’ Cover

Lexi Thompson is making waves with her Golf Digest cover, which featured the 20-year-old posing topless with a strategically-placed towel to cover her up.

Thompson is now the third woman to appear on the May cover of the monthly golf magazine, following Holly Sonders in 2013 and Paulina Gretzky in 2014.

In the article, Lexi Thompson told Golf Digest about her workout routine, which includes the inflatable platform known as the Bosu ball, which improves core strength and balance.

“(Trainer Craig Slaunwhite) was all about strengthening my core. I basically live standing on a Bosu ball,” Thompson said. “Exercises like this help build the strength so you can swing within yourself. A lot of amateurs over-swing because they’re not strong enough to stay in control.”

Lexi said she was confident the workout regimen would help her unlock greater distance on her drives.

“I definitely think I can get longer,” she said. “There are a hidden few yards here and there for sure. It’s all about learning what muscles I need to work on to get that extra distance out of my body.”

Thompson has been a rising star in the golf world for almost a decade, dating back to when she was still in middle school. At age 12, she became the youngest golfer to ever qualify for the U.S. Women’s Open. Lexi turned pro in June 2010 at age 15, and the following year set a record for the youngest-ever winner of an LPGA event.

Lexi went on to become the second-youngest winner of a Ladies European Tour event when she won the Dubai Ladies Masters in December, 2011. Last year, she won her first major championship, taking the 2014 Kraft Nabisco Championship.

Lexi Thompson isn’t the only golfer making waves for a topless magazine cover. PGA star Rory McIlroy just posed shirtless for a new issue of Men’s Health Magazine, showing off the great amount of work he puts into staying in top shape.

McIlroy has put a great amount of work into improving himself, and Charles Siebert from the New York Times shared Rory’s workout regimen.

“Since 2010, McIlroy has been working out five times a week, 90 minutes a day, under the close supervision of his British trainer, Dr. Stephen McGregor, a fitness consultant for the Manchester City soccer club and formerly for the New York Knicks.”

McIlroy had also appeared shirtless on last month’s Golf Digest, and the publication was ready for the criticism that might come with Thompson’s topless cover, Editor-in-Chief Terry Tarde explained.

“I was not there. Lexi Thompson’s mother, Judy, was. The editors had cleared the room during what were called the delicate moments. But Lexi wasn’t the least bit self-conscious. When our Photographer-at-Large, Walter Iooss Jr., a veteran of 43 years of Sports Illustrated Swimsuit issues, began working with Lexi, someone asked Judy if she was OK with the shoot. Mom’s response was, “I am, but her middle brother won’t be!” That’s Curtis, the protective one, who attended LSU and plays the PGA Tour Canada.”

More pictures from the Lexi Thompson Golf Digest photo shoot can be seen here.

[Image via Golf Digest]