Scandinavian skin: Pettersen poses nude for ESPN

• By Ryan Ballengee
• Jul 10, 2012 11:23 AM ET

When Suzann Pettersen was approached by ESPN The Magazine to appear nude in its annual "Body Issue," she saw it as a compliment.

"A lot of the best athletes in the world have done it, and I thought it was great to be asked. I thought about it, being naked and all, but I never really considered not doing it," Pettersen told USA Today.

"I just had to make sure that I was comfortable in doing it. It's as natural as it gets. It's health at its peak."

The fourth-annual issue, which comes out on Friday, features Pettersen and 26 other athletes in poses intended to show off their physique (attached photo is courtesy of Jeff Lipsky, ESPN The Magazine). The world No. 6 is joined by the likes of soccer star Abby Wambach and Toronto Blue Jays slugger Jose Bautista.

She follows in the footsteps of fellow LPGA players Belen Mozo, Christina Kim, Sandra Gal and Anna Grzebien. PGA Tour player Camilo Villegas has also posed in the issue.

Despite working out almost every day for two hours, Pettersen admitted feeling awkward being nude for almost the entirety of a five-hour photo shoot.

"The photographer asked me if I felt comfortable being naked in front of a camera, and I went, 'Well, here I am,'" she said. "You kind of get used to it."

Don't expect Pettersen to pose nude again, but she was glad she did it this once.

"This was a great opportunity for me," she said. "If they present the photos in the right way, which I'm sure they will do, there's not going to be anything to be embarrassed about or to criticize."