Jenny Lidback - Part 2 (Winning the 1995 du Maurier Classic)

Intro Music 0:07

Straight down the middle. It went straight down the middle. Then it started to poke it.

Mike Gonzalez 0:15

As Bruce said at the top, uh that's when Jenny Lidback turns professional in 1986 at age 23. She had nine professional wins, including one on the LPGA tour. Eight wins were on that Epson Tour, which we're going to talk about. So while you joined the LPGA Tour in 89, uh you had some experience uh in those years prior uh playing on the Epson Tour. So uh uh give our listeners a flavor of a new college graduate, year one, going out to play professional golf for the first time. You don't know the cities, you don't know the golf courses, you don't know where to stay, you're still probably using a hand map. Take us through life on the road.

Jenny Lidback 1:02

Definitely using a hand map. And uh, you know, and you're driving everywhere kind of, you know, of course, unless they're cross-country or so forth, but yeah, not not easy, you know, definitely on a budget. I did have a handful of sponsors that, you know, including my parents, that put, you know, a bit of money in just in my bank account just so I could get started. And uh I was fortunate that I did make enough money on the mini tour, the Epson tour. And uh so, but you know, it was I I played in it longer than I wanted to, but which was a couple years. And but you know, hey, I at least I had a place to play. And uh everything for me was geared up trying to get better and making it on the LPGA tour.

Mike Gonzalez 1:54

You didn't wait long because the first year out in 1986, uh, you get your first professional win at the Cape Coral Classic.

Jenny Lidback 2:04

Yes, it's uh it's nice to get a check, too. That was thrilling. You know, to get paid, and it was like, oh my gosh, this is amazing. So yeah, it was um, you know, great memories and uh very fortunate.

Mike Gonzalez 2:21

Yeah, and uh Bruce, she picked up a few more along the way over the next couple of years while she went back and forth trying for the LPG tour. It's nice to at least cash a few checks and and get some uh victories under your belt, right?

Jenny Lidback 2:33

Yes, exactly. And you know, back then we didn't have the exemptions, you know. So back then we didn't have like, you know, the top 10 on the Epsom tour can make it or or so forth, qualify for the tour, so forth. So no matter how good you played, I mean the bank account is liking it, of course, you know, nothing like the tour or anything, but at least I've got money. And uh, but you know, you still had to make it through those qualifying schools, which as we all know, they're referred to as Hell Week.

Mike Gonzalez 3:04

Yeah.

Jenny Lidback 3:05

Yes, uh, you know, it it is Hell Week going to Q school. I mean, your whole life revolves around, you know, one, two or three weeks of the year. And uh, so yes, I I made it with my younger brother on the bag, and um, it was um it is a dream come true, you know, and to finally get my tour card and be part of the LPGA. So I was looking forward to the next year of actually being a rookie.

Mike Gonzalez 3:33

Yeah, so you you come off that player of the year in 1988 on the futures tour. You get your card, you're out on the LPGA tour now. Did you find that the players on the big tour were helpful to the youngster just trying to find her way?

Jenny Lidback 3:50

Yeah, I knew enough people from from college. And uh, you know, Heather Farr was there, so she was she was younger, but made it before I did, because she didn't have the issues I did through going to Q school. And I um, you know, it's uh yeah, so I had her as my really good friend who we traveled some together and so forth. So she she definitely showed me the ropes.

Mike Gonzalez 4:18

So you come on the tour, of course, as you know, a lot of young hotshots come out on tour, but it's hard to win.

Jenny Lidback 4:26

It's really hard to win. And yeah, I had won a lot in college and the mini tour, and I'm thinking the same thing's gonna happen. And it's it didn't happen, you know, but uh I mean I wouldn't change it for anything. Yeah, it would have been nice to have more than one tour career, but uh, or LPGA career or tour win. And but it is, it's it's not easy, you know. It's it's really not easy at all.

Mike Gonzalez 4:57

So bridge the gap for us, then if you will. You come out on tour in '89, you get you you finally break through, and we'll talk about that in 1995. So took you a while to learn to win. Of course, it took Betsy King eight years to learn how to win on the LPGA tour. She seemed to do okay, but uh uh take us through those six years and that progression in your game.

Jenny Lidback 5:19

Yes, you know, I um well, I was doing okay, you know. Um obviously I kept my card, and uh, but just not making it happen. And um at one point I did change teachers. Um that lasted about a year. And then a good friend of mine, uh a good friend of mine, Emily Fletcher, who's the women's golf coach at Northwestern University, um, she was friends with the Betsy King and the Barb Whitehead and Barb Thomas. Um, so I got to meet her, and then I don't know, one day I just started quizzing her about the swing and stuff, and um, she'd come watch us sometimes on tour, and we'd play in Chicago and she'd be there, and I ended up going to her as my instructor. And uh yeah, we changed some things on my swing, you know, and that's really actually within the year I won DeMaurier.

Mike Gonzalez 6:28

Obviously, we talk about uh being hard to win. It was a six-year stretch, uh, but I'm sure you were striving to improve various aspects of your game. When you came out on tour, was there one thing you observed about your game that was missing relative to what you were seeing from your fellow competitors?

Jenny Lidback 6:46

I think being consistent for four days. Uh four days is is the is is really hard, you know, uh to to put it together. And mentally and physically, physically I was fine, but it's the mental of putting it four good rounds together or or the day that you're not hitting it as well, you've got to keep it still as a decent uh score, you know, to try to keep you in there.

Mike Gonzalez 7:18

So you break through in 1995 uh in a big way. And uh there aren't too many people that can say that their first LPGA win was a major championship, but Jenny Lidback can say that. So this is the the DeMaurier Classic, the old Peter Jackson contested at Beaconsfield Golf Club, and you won that major by one over fellow Swede Lisa Lettneumann.

Jenny Lidback 7:45

Yes, I was paired with her. I was playing with her, which I've always enjoyed playing with Lotan.

Mike Gonzalez 7:52

I I should explain the fellow Swede thing. We kind of jumped ahead, but you're also a passport holder from the country of Sweden because of your father's heritage, I guess. Is that right? Yeah.

Jenny Lidback 8:04

Yes, exactly. And when after I won, I guess the newspapers uh in Sweden, you know, um highlighted it that I my background was, you know, part Swedish, so that was kind of pretty cool.

Mike Gonzalez 8:17

Yeah, so rounds of 71, 69, 68, 72, a little eight under. And um, you know, the conditions that week probably varied. Uh, you know, from what Bruce and I have read, uh uh that first round was a little windy, and the greens weren't all that great.

Jenny Lidback 8:38

No, they had had some sort of a fungus or something, you know, hit the greens. And um yeah, there were some spots in the greens that were not, there was no grass, and uh which was very unfortunate, you know, for for the club and the members, you know, to put such a big tournament together. But, you know, it helped me. All I thought about, everybody was gonna have some bad bounces on the green, literally. And for me, it was like, well, just hit it solid and you're gonna have less bounces. And that's really all I focused was was making sure I made solid contact with the putter. And it it worked. I I I wasn't too much into what was between me and the hole. It was more like, okay, give it a good stroke, give it a solid contact, and it'll roll fine. So I I didn't I didn't make a big deal of it for me. Everybody was in the same situation.

Mike Gonzalez 9:38

So tell us about your game going into that week because obviously something's different. You know, you go six years, can't quite crack through the winner's circle. Next thing you know, you win a major. What was your game like coming into the week? Were you in the right headspace? You must have been. Just tell tell us about what your recollections are of that week.

Jenny Lidback 9:57

Yeah, well, I was working on something new. I can't tell you what I was working on, but because I don't remember. But uh I was working on something different. I was working on something different because I was working with a new coach. Uh and uh so my thought process was a little different that that week with my swing, and uh, I was looking at it for more long term for my future of getting it better, a better swing. So um, and you know, I I literally had no idea what I was gonna shoot that week. I I could have shot 80 in the first round, but I I played well and I thought, well, okay, let's just kind of keep it going and keep that swing thought going. And uh, you know, and it worked out. And um, I I know I was leading by one going to the last day, and I was playing with Lislat Neumann, and on the first green, first hole, I had hit my second shot to about 10 feet for Birdie, and it was a little downhill, right to left. Well, I hit it too hard and I three-potted from 10 feet. And the two years prior, I was leading the LPGA, uh, the Mazda LPGA Championship, also one of our four majors, and I was leading by two ahead of Patty Sheehan, and I headed into the last round, and I I played it terrible. You know, I was so darn nervous and uh and so forth. And so after I three-potted on that first hole in the final day of DeMourier, I had a long walk from the green to the second T-box, and I just had a major pep talk to myself, and I said, I will not do this again. Maybe Lota is gonna beat me, but I will not give it away. And uh, you know, next hole I parred, next hole I birdied, and um I kind of got things going.

Mike Gonzalez 11:56

Yeah, you you you ended up birdieing, I think, three of the next five holes after that uh close range three jack on the first, uh, a little windy on that Sunday?

Jenny Lidback 12:06

A little bit. I don't remember that. I was so into I was so into the present, you know, and uh I was working with Rick Jensen at the time, sports psychologist, and he just told me as soon as you get ahead of yourself, you know, flick yourself on the cheek, something that the gallery can't see. Do something that the gallery won't notice you doing. So that's all I kept thinking about, you know, like pinching myself or something. It's like, nope, stay in the present. So I have no idea what the wind. I just remember the you know what I was thinking, and and you know, like I say, trying to hit solid putts.

Bruce Devlin 12:45

You had two uh special people following you that day, too. Tell us uh tell us about mom and dad being there to watch you win that tournament. That had to be a fun.

Jenny Lidback 12:59

Yes, I had three special people actually. And two were my parents, which rarely were both of them at a tournament, you know. I mean, of course, I had other siblings, and so they were at home, my dad was still working, and so the fact that they were there was incredibly special. And also my oldest nephew, who's Roberto Castro, and uh so he was there, yes, and so that made it special because you know, sometimes after you win, most players leave for the next event. And so you kind of sometimes may not have anybody to go to dinner with, you know, it depends on who's left and who hasn't. And so the fact that I had a nice dinner with my parents and my and Roberto was uh extremely special. And I'll tell you a really cute story. After I won, you know, of course, I'm going to the scores tent, and during the week, Roberto, who all loved to go see pro shops, um, well, I during the week he had gone to the pro shop with my parents and he had seen a little wooden box for people to put their golf ball on when you made a hole in one. And it in the wooden box was engraved, you know, Beaconsfield, Beaconsfield Country Club and so forth. Well, while I'm at the scorer's tent, he had asked my parents that can we go to the pro shop and get this box for for Jenny. Well, I had no idea this was going on. And once we finished the the um the the the news and you know the dealing with the reporters and so forth, I um we went to dinner. So Roberta goes, well, I'm doing my my scorecard and so forth. He's uh he takes my parents over there and my wants, he gets me this box, the wooden box, which I have in my trophy case. And uh, you know, and and then that night we get to the hotel, and it's kind of late, you know, because you've you've done all the media stuff, and he presents me this box so I can put my winning, because I gave him, as soon as I walked off the green on the 72nd hole, I gave him the ball. He was already into golf and you know, kind of wanted to follow my career.

unknown 15:22

Yeah.

Jenny Lidback 15:22

And so I gave him, as soon as I walked off the green, I gave him the golf ball and I said, This is for you. You make sure you keep it. And uh, so anyway, that night at the hotel, he presented the ball back to me, but in that wooden box.

Mike Gonzalez 15:39

That was probably a more special trophy than anything else you'd ever received. Yeah, that's nice. You gotta tell us how well you slept on that one-shot lead on Saturday night.

Jenny Lidback 15:50

Not very good at at all. No, no, that that's hard. That's I don't know. I I I'm not a good sleeper anyway. And um yeah, that was uh, and you know, the hard thing is you don't sleep well, and then you gotta wait for a two o'clock tea time, which is even worse. You know, I'm I'm a morning person and uh I'm always ready to get going in the morning. And uh that that was I think to me that was the hardest thing on tour is waiting for those long tea, you know, late tea times.

Mike Gonzalez 16:23

Yeah, I I bet that$150,000 came in handy, though.

Jenny Lidback 16:28

Oh, yes, it did. And of course, I have a copy of it.

Mike Gonzalez 16:34

You win a major. We're talking about the 1995 DeMaurier, and how does that change life for you? How does it change your mindset? Do you shift your goals? What happens?

Jenny Lidback 16:48

Um, well, obviously the financial helped. Um also I really wanted to win another one, so I could back it up. And uh, you know, unfortunately that didn't happen. I I came very close um in two in two occasions. One I I I lost a playoff at the Sarah Lee Classic. And uh the other one was at the Betsy King Classic, and I missed a three-footer, which are really with a very big break, um you know, to go into a playoff. So I uh I uh that would have really been um my goal was to win, of course, one more time to back up my DeMouryeur.

Mike Gonzalez 17:34

Well, one thing I noticed is quite interesting, and uh a couple years after the DeMorrier win, you're playing in the Chrysler Plymouth Tournament of Champions, and you have not one hole in one, but two hole in ones.

Jenny Lidback 17:51

Yes, um, I've actually had sixteen total in my career, um four during tournaments, but yes, and um that uh the first one I made at Tournament of Champions, I flew in a five-iron right straight into the hole, so it obviously destroyed the hole. And then the other one, which was about like 11 holes later the next day, 11 or 12 holes later, I uh, you know, it was like I could see it, it was a little right of the pin, and it took the perfect break, and it just kind of rolled in there as if it were like a putt. And so yeah, that was that was pretty cool because uh I was like in a hole in one club, and we were about seven of us uh friends on tour, and whoever uh made a hole in one in in uh during the tournament, uh everybody else had to pay that make you know, the hole-in-one person uh a hundred bucks each. So we had allowed one player, and that was her first week of being in our little hole in one club, and so she was out 200 bucks like right off the bat.

Mike Gonzalez 19:06

Welcome to the club.

Jenny Lidback 19:09

Exactly.

Mike Gonzalez 19:10

So, in addition to individual play on the big tour, you also had a chance to uh compete uh on a world level in the Honda Cup in that team competition, which represents uh of course you were representing the world team, I think, back then, but you had a chance to appear in the Honda Cup uh across uh eight different competitions, didn't you?

Jenny Lidback 19:33

Yes, exactly. It was fine. It was, you know, uh a lot of great captains in our in our world team. And uh, you know, the Americans were definitely difficult to win, and we won it once, and that was that was a big deal. You know, they we came close a couple other times, you know. I mean, matches that came down to the last hole. And um, but that's you know, any golf is such an individual sport that anytime you can play a team event, it's um it's pretty special.

Mike Gonzalez 20:08

Yeah, of course, uh uh our listeners uh U.S. side will certainly recognize uh some of these names as U.S. captains. Uh the first uh, I think four times it was Kathy Whitworth, a couple of times Joanne Carner, a couple of times Nancy Lopez, her name came up. But on your side, Catherine Panton Lewis uh uh ran the ship, I think, for the first uh three competitions, then three times with Pia Nelson Nielsen, and then you had Sally Little a couple of times from South Africa.

Jenny Lidback 20:39

Yeah, how great is that?

Mike Gonzalez 20:41

Pretty good.

Jenny Lidback 20:43

Yeah, pretty cool. And it was great having Pia Nielsen, you know, because she's such a mind person, and uh it it was great. It was we had it was fun to be in team meetings, you know, to listen to these amazing captains.

Mike Gonzalez 21:00

So take us through the the uh the decision to sort of hang it up on the regular tour with individual play. How did that come about?

Jenny Lidback 21:09

I was about 40 years old, and literally I thought I was beating my head against the wall, playing, competing with these 20-year-olds. And the power play is really what did it. You know, um, players started really bombing the golf ball and off the tee, and uh I just couldn't keep up. And uh it became no fun. And I remember my last year on tour, we were playing in Will Williamsburg, Virginia, and my coach was on the bag, and uh and I shot 72, and she goes, Jen, you actually played well and you hit it well. And I said, I know, but that's as good as it gets right now, you know, because the golf courses were longer and the pin placements are tucked even more, and you know, I'm hitting, you know, maybe my my five eye. Iron or so forth, and uh everybody else is hitting an eight iron. Well, to those tuck pins, it becomes pretty difficult. And it was no more fun, it was not fun anymore. And um, like I said, it became a battle with my with my distance and I was what I was hitting to the greens.

Mike Gonzalez 22:18

Yeah. And and of course, we all know uh at age 40, we're not getting any longer, are we?

Jenny Lidback 22:25

Exactly right, you know, and I tried my darnest. I mean, by then, you know, we were working out on tour, you know, and uh physically fit, and you know, but it just you know, it's really hard to gain distance at that age, you know, and clubhead speed and so forth. And I I tried my darnest to increase my clubhead speed, and it's it's not easy, even if it's just one mile per hour, it is just not easy. And uh, you know, it's it started messing up the rest of my swing.

Mike Gonzalez 22:57

Yeah, did you stay relatively healthy?

Jenny Lidback 23:02

I I did stay relative. I mean, I have a bad back and it bothered me on tour a lot. But you know, with physical therapists that traveled with us, I mean that that did it. Um, but you know, yes, I've always had back problems. Not always, but you know, a big part of my career. And um thank goodness for those therapists that travel with us.

Intro Music 23:23

Yeah.

Mike Gonzalez 23:26

So why don't you take us through the transition you made from playing professional golf to entering the real world?

Jenny Lidback 23:35

Yeah, that was uh that was, you know, it's like I said earlier, I I got a dog the week before my last tournament, you know, the Betsy King Classic. And I I was I was tired of, you know, things really changed after 9-11 traveling wise. Um, prior to 9-11. Things uh, you know, you could get to the airport 30 minutes before and catch your flight, or you know, you could you could exchange your airline ticket with somebody else. I mean, there was like no ID being checked. And so that that became a lot more difficult. Um, but I I was ready to move on and uh and and settle down in a at a house, you know, in a house and uh with neighborhood. And I I never knew my my neighbors because I was always on the road. And I was I was just ready to have a more of a normal life.

Mike Gonzalez 24:31

So why don't you take us through the last few years then from the time you retired till today? What's been occupying your time? What uh what are you involved in? What uh what are you passionate about?

Jenny Lidback 24:43

Uh well right now, you know, um I played after I just before COVID, I was almost ready to I it kept crossing my mind that it was time also to retire from the Legends tour. And uh, but I just couldn't make that decision. And you know, it's you know, when when you still hit it good sometimes, you're like, oh, there it is, I can keep doing this, you know, but there's no consistency. And uh then COVID hit and all our tournaments were canceled in in 2020. And um, so I literally, literally had nothing to do. And um one of my dogs had become prior to to COVID a therapy dog. So we were visiting hospitals, cancer centers, you know, and in senior centers, but that also came to a stop. And so I I ventured out to um doing volunteer work that was outdoors, and uh, which is at a ranch, Raining Grace Ranch. And uh it's a horse sanctuary, but they also use equine therapy for troubled kids and first responders and veterans, and that's really where my passion is. And um then 2021 when tournaments started coming back, and I started getting the invitations for the US Senior Open and LPGA Senior Championship and the Legends tournaments. I I literally, my first invitation that I got in 2021, I got a pit in my stomach. And I'm like, I don't want to do this anymore. I don't want to travel anymore, make hotels reservations. And I said, no, I'm done. And um, it was great. Actually, COVID helped me do that, and and I'm thankful for COVID in that sense because I my life is really surrounded by volunteer work right now. You know, I'm back to you know, uh visiting hospitals and so forth with one of my dogs, and um I'm I'm kind of in charge of landscaping in this 20-acre ranch. And as a golfer, you know, golf courses are pretty perfect. And uh I I love to keep this ranch um looking good, you know, and uh and I love it. It's it's I'm a little obsessed with it, I think, sometimes, you know, but uh because I love it. And uh, you know, it's just four miles from my house here in the beautiful Arizona Mountains, and um to see what these horses and uh do to these kids, you know, there's a lot of troubled kids nowadays uh with internet and stuff, social media. So I'm very happy to be part of it.

Mike Gonzalez 27:38

That's gotta be very gratifying work, uh what you're doing with the horses and uh helping the kids.

Jenny Lidback 27:45

It sure is, you know, and to hear when a kid who's has big problems, you know, and they they'll do we have programs that are like eight sessions with horses, and they and they have to learn, you know, how to clean them and pick up their poop and saddle them up and everything. And uh, you know, and and to watch a kid change after only three sessions, yeah, it's it's very rewarding. And um, you know, we you know, I'm I'm a I'm an animal lover anyway, and uh, but to see this working with kids and first responders and veterans is is great.

Mike Gonzalez 28:28

Yeah, that's terrific. Uh Bruce, uh quite a few accolades bestowed upon this lady.

Bruce Devlin 28:33

Well, you can you can tell her love for uh helping people, you know. She was uh named Peruse, a golfer of the 20th century. Became a U.S. citizen in 2003. Uh was inducted into the LSU Hall of Fame, Women's Golf Coaches Association Players Hall of the Fame. Uh pretty fancy record there, Jenny.

Mike Gonzalez 29:02

Yeah, and I'll I'll put one more in there. Uh I think uh fairly recently, back last October, Jenny, if I'm not mistaken, you uh entered the TCU Athletic Hall of Fame with that 1983 team of yours.

Jenny Lidback 29:16

Yeah, that was great. That was uh that just happened in October, and uh it was like a 40-year reunion with that team. And uh it was fantastic. Um I'm thrilled and and blessed to be part of all those Hall of Fames. Uh the College Hall of Fame. That one I had been waiting for for a long time. I uh it was um I really wanted that one. And uh when I when I got it and it was in Las Vegas, um pretty much my entire family came.

Mike Gonzalez 29:48

If you've listened to any of our podcasts, you know that we like to finish with three final questions before we let our guests go. And I always give the tea to my senior partner, Bruce Dublin. So, Mr. Devlin, you have the tea.

Bruce Devlin 30:02

Okay, Jenny. So, first question. If you knew what you know now, and we took you back to when you first started on the tour, what would you have done differently?

Jenny Lidback 30:19

Physical fitness. I would have made myself stronger and really worked on that club head speed, is you know. Um yeah, I wish I could have hit it further off the team.

Mike Gonzalez 30:35

Well, that sounds like that would work just fine. Uh second question, pretty easy one. We'll see how long it takes for you to come up with an answer here, but we're gonna give you one career mulligan. Where do you take it?

Jenny Lidback 30:51

Yeah, that's a good one. Um I would say my three-footer at the Betsy King Classic. But to to get into the playoff, you know, and uh I have to say though that my flight didn't leave until the next day. And do you know I went back Monday morning with my putter and my ball, and I putted that putt again, and I still missed it.

Mike Gonzalez 31:17

So maybe the mulligan wouldn't have done you any good.

Jenny Lidback 31:20

I know, but maybe the third, the second mulligan would have.

Mike Gonzalez 31:25

That's great.

Bruce Devlin 31:26

That's great.

Jenny Lidback 31:27

Yeah.

Bruce Devlin 31:28

Okay, Jenny, tell us, how would you like to be remembered?

Jenny Lidback 31:34

I obviously I'd like to be remembered as a major winner, which is a big deal, you know. Um when your dream is to be a tour player. And uh, you know, at 14, and yes, uh, I want a major, thank goodness. And you know, but as the older the older I get, you know, I would love to be remembered for for helping others. Um, you know, I've been extremely blessed to have the life that I've had. And um I I want to be remembered as as a helping, kind person with a big heart and to help people that are not as fortunate as as I have been. And uh, you know, um I do remember, I hope one day I have a metal horse statue in this ranch, you know, with my name on it, you know, and um that will obviously happen probably when the day I'm gone. But uh, but I do. I I I want to make the best out of the volunteer work that that I do.

Bruce Devlin 32:40

Well, we thank you, Jenny, for being with us today. It's been fun talking with you about your life and starting in Peru and ending up in Arizona, and we thank you for your time.

Jenny Lidback 32:52

Thank you so much, you guys. Uh I have really enjoyed spending some time with you guys and answering your questions, but just having some laughs with you guys.

Mike Gonzalez 33:04

Yeah, we're so grateful to be able to add your story to all the golf greats as we capture the life stories of major winners Hall of Famers on For the Good of the Game. So, Jenny, it's been a delight having you.

Jenny Lidback 33:17

Thank you so much. I'm extremely glad to be part of this amazing group of people that you're interviewing.

Mike Gonzalez 33:25

Thank you for listening to another episode of For the Good of the Game. And please, wherever you listen to your podcast on Apple and Spotify, if you like what you hear, please subscribe, spread the word, and tell your friends until we tee it up again for the good of the game. So long, everybody.

Intro Music 33:48

It went smack down the fairway, and it started to slice, just smit off line. My head says long as you're still in the stage, okay. It went straight down the middle file away.