Gulbis and Danica remain winless despite photo spreads, etc.

I just can’t stop comparing women’s golf to women’s tennis. And why not? They’re both pretty awesome right now and both more appealing than the men’s tours. But cutie pie/golf star Natalie Gulbis remains winless on the LPGA after losing in this weekend’s playoff at the Jamie Farr – despite her reality TV show, calendar and magazine spreads. Indy Car phenom Danica Patrick is also doing provocative shoots before her first checkered flag.

Anna Kournikova teased us with her semifinal appearance at Wimbledon when she was 16. That was as close as she got to anything and can now be seen at Miami Heat games with Enrique Iglesias looking completely disinterested in life after I stopped returning her emails. On the flip side, Maria Sharapova won Wimbledon, and then the flood of advertising and photo shoots followed - her status as a champion solidified.

Is Natalie - distracted by the extracurriculars of having a stunning bod and the media blitz that accompanies one - headed towards the same path? The first image on her homepage is of her holding a trophy, meaning winning is on her mind. But are majors or pageants on the forefront?

Is it okay for female sports stars to cash in on sex appeal now and winning later, or does that diminish their role as an “athlete"? Should they win first, pose second?

Women’s sex icon shelflives for the main stream media tend to dwindle around 30, so maybe its best she cashes in on the “other stuff” now and focus on golf when the next bombshell sports star lands. Unlike a tennis star, female golfers can win into their 40s. Maybe this is the glamour phase of her career, then she’ll start winning in 2015. Then again, she came close this weekend, maybe she’ll win next week.