Oct. 13, 2023

Juli Inkster - Part 3 (The Final Two Majors and the Solheim Cup

Juli Inkster - Part 3 (The Final Two Majors and the Solheim Cup

What do you get when you put a golf champion in the hot seat? Only an intoxicating conversation filled with shared laughter, cherished memories, and an inside look at the world of professional golf. Welcoming 31-time LPGA winner Juli Inkster to our show, we traverse the fairways of her stunning career, from her very first swing to her monumental victories. 

In our final segment, Juli recounts the thrill of her Hall of Fame-qualifying triumph at the Safeway LPGA Golf Championship, the exhilaration of her playoff win at the 2000 LPGA Championship, and the unforgettable moment when she broke records at the 2002 U.S. Women's Open. She also lets us in on her experiences at the Solheim Cup, where she not only proved to be a formidable competitor but also learned invaluable lessons about team performance. 

And golf is not the only thing Juli excels at. As we shift gears, we touch on her broadcasting journey with Fox Sports. Hear her insights on providing commentary for golf, the advice she received from famed producer Don Ohlmeyer, and her moving reflection on being honored by the USGA with the Bob Jones Award. Tune in for an episode that explores Juli Inkster's remarkable journey on and off the golf course, a journey that’s as inspiring as it is captivating as she concludes her life story, “FORE the Good of the Game.”

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About

"FORE the Good of the Game” is a golf podcast featuring interviews with World Golf Hall of Fame members, winners of major championships and other people of influence in and around the game of golf. Highlighting the positive aspects of the game, we aim to create and provide an engaging and timeless repository of content that listeners can enjoy now and forever. Co-hosted by PGA Tour star Bruce Devlin, our podcast focuses on telling their life stories, in their voices. Join Bruce and Mike Gonzalez “FORE the Good of the Game.”


Thanks so much for listening!

Transcript

Mike Gonzalez  00:15

The Safeway LPGA Golf Championship at Columbia Edgewater. You just eeked it out by six over Grace Park and Tina Barrett. And that's what that that's my last point I needed to I had 26 That was my 27th point. And that's when I made the Hall of Fame. Yep. And Brian and Haley and Cori and I flew up for the Sunday round and, and they were there to help celebrate, which was awesome to get a little wet on the 18th green. I did. Yeah, champagne shower. Yeah. I mean, it's, it's, you know, winning is great. But when your peers respect you and and, like you and stuff that that to me means the world. Yeah. That's terrific. Bruce, you didn't let up too much in this in the next.

 

Devlin, Bruce  01:06

No more more victories in the year 2000. And Long's Drug Challenge. Your LPGA championship again, at DuPont Country Club and the SamsungWorld Championship the third time for that, so you must love that place.

 

Mike Gonzalez  01:27

I did. I did. But the Long's Drug which was great, it was up in Sacramento and so Haley's 10 and Cori's six so you know, they have a lot of my a lot of my great friends are their parents friends, and a lot of them know nothing about golf. The guys did the girl the lady thing but so I took Haley's friends up there and and in Cori's friends up there I think we had like you know, Haley had two Cori had two and and then the parents ended up coming up and so they all saw me win. And you know, as you know, winning in your hometown is phenomenal. Because the people that can't really get to see you play and so they were all there to watch me win. So that was one of my more special tournaments. Yeah, that was my five over Brandie Burton. You must have had a lot of comfortable walks up at some of these victory margins. Yeah. Bruce , Bruce  is there is there ever a comfortable walk? No. I just Yeah, until that final putt goes in I don't think I ever feel comfortable

 

Devlin, Bruce  02:41

so long as there's no water sometimes it can be okay you know you got a two or three shot lead and think well, even I can't screw this one up

 

Mike Gonzalez  02:54

well, let's let's go to the next major championship so this was the 2000 LPGA Championship at DuPont Country Club. We've heard a lot about DuPont they played several championships there. This was in a playoff with Stefania Croce was that how you pronounce it crochet crochet crochet and little 65 in the 3rd round yes you know so I don't know if you ever played DuPont but it's a really tough Golf Course really small greens very isolated your iron game has to be on point there because you just can't get above the hole or the side it's just and I you know I it's a type of Golf Course it sets up good for me because I'm kind of a streaky putter I you know when I get going to get going and when I don't I don't but I put it really well that week and my iron game was was great. I ended up being beating her in a playoff on the first extra hole yeah lead by three with five to play but then you had some tree trouble on 14 You remember that? Probably yeah, I don't but I my life I've had a lot of tree trouble. So I can always I can always hit a over it's the under I always had problem. Yeah.

 

Devlin, Bruce  04:21

Yeah.

 

Mike Gonzalez  04:24

You turn 40 The previous day shooting the lower end of the tournament. So was that on your birthday then? That 65 Yeah, yeah. So back-to-back at the LPGA and then you go on to finish up the year at the Samsung World Golf Championship as Bruce mentioned, which is your your third victory this was over just by four over Annika So again, another comfortable walk up? Yeah. Yeah, again that was in that was close to my home and it really hilly golf Course. And it was fun to have everybody there. So yeah, that's great. thing I love about the Samsung, I think there was only like 20 to 23 people so 24 I mean I figure worst 24 Why don't I just go for it was that a Mark McCormack-initiated the tournament at one point did he get that going? With the limited field? I'm not really sure. It was just kind of the end of the year cup with our players got to play it. Yeah, it was. It was just a bonus tournament. I think he might have been involved at one point. Yeah. Anyway, we go into 2001 and the Electrolux USA Championship at Legends Club, down in Tennessee by one over Catriona Matthew. Yeah, that was Vince Gill and Amy Grant. So that was great. Yeah, I got events. Yeah, I got a Vince Gill. Signed. electric guitar. I still have so pretty great. Yeah, yeah. Do you play? Yeah, no, no, I did. I did play but I need to get back into it. Yeah. Well, that's good. That's a cool guitar to have. And then. Let's go on to 2002.

 

Devlin, Bruce  06:09

Bruce? Yes. Chick-fil-A Charity Championship at Eagle's Landing Country Club. Where you won by two over Kelly Robbins.

 

Mike Gonzalez  06:18

Yeah, Chick-fil-A, Who doesn't love Chick-fil-A? Yeah. It's kind of like it's one in the United Gold Card. I got free Chick-fil-A for the year. But unfortunately, out in California, we didn't have anything. Yeah, I always had to do when I traveled to the south. That's where I picked up my free Chick-fil-A. Yeah, that was a good golf Course I stayed with. So I'd stay with this host family that when Haley was I don't know probably three months I called I called the tournament office and asked if there was any housing, that would mind housing myself and my my child, and I stay with these people called the Huberts. And they had a son named Si that was a year older than Haley. And then they had a boy named Doc. And then, and then I had Cori and we just became great friends. And every time I was in that area, I go back and the boys got along with the girls and it was just a great match. And we had so much fun. Yeah, that's that's a thing that comes through with a lot of our guests talking about some of the towns you played in and the way the townspeople would support the events the memories of the people you stayed with. You know, we remember Kathy Whitworth just raving about how fun Rochester was as an example. Yeah, I loved Rochester. I hated the golf course. But yeah, I don't think I never went there, Patty won there like, probably 10 times. I don't know. And it was, I mean, it was so much like Pasatiempo and I could not, could not understand why I couldn't play that Golf Course. I just never did. Yeah. Oh, my caddy. Yeah. Have you ever heard of a football player named Warren Sapp? Sure. Yeah, that's what my caddy called me all the all week. Warren Sapp because I kept hitting the trees and getting sap all over my body. Well, let's talk about that last major. Bruce.

 

Devlin, Bruce  08:27

Yeah. 2002 US Women's Open at Prairie Dunes Country Club where you want to over Annika again. So and that's after trailing Annika by two shots after three rounds. So you played pretty good the last day little 66

 

Mike Gonzalez  08:45

Yes. And you know, what's weird about that? Is I hadn't been back since I won the U.S. Amateur there. So that's 22 years later. And you know, winning the U.S. Am, I go back and the clubhouse hadn't changed. You know, a lot of the people that watched me when the amateur there were there. And I I don't know if you guys have ever played that Golf Course, but the greens are super tough. And I was hitting the ball, extremely poor, and I just couldn't figure it out. But I was making everything. And I was every night I was always the last one on the range trying to figure something out. I I'm I'm a more of a field player. I gotta feel it. I can someone can't sit say you're doing this. I gotta feel what I'm trying to do. And I couldn't get anything. And then Saturday night, just before Brian goes, Juli, we gotta go. You know? I found a little something. And so the next day I show up and you know, it's actually working on the range. And so you The first hole I par I'm playing with Shaney Wall which is very comfortable pairing for me i He's a good friend of mine. Easy, plays quick. And Annika was playing with Jill McGill behind us who's a little more deliberate. So I thought that was a great pairing for me. But anyway, on the second hole I had like an eight foot or down the hill, probably breaks a foot and a half to two feet. And I don't know, I just I just saw I saw the line. And I made it and and then I was I was off to the races. I putted. Great that day. I hit the ball. Great that day. I made an amazing par on 15 I hit a hit a bad shot, hit it, and Annika was watching behind me and I suck about a 15 footer for par and I birdied 16 And I don't know I just it was just it was meant to be I just I grinded. I grinded all week and I don't think I've ever been so tired after a tournament like that. Yeah, what's nice about Prairie Dunes in the summertime is the weather is so cool. Yeah it's like Jackson, Mississippi in July Yeah. Yeah, but you know usually it blows 30 to 40 you know and it blew but not not nearly as hard as it usually does. So but yeah it to be to go back there 22 years later into when an amateur and and open their eyes. It's pretty cool. Yeah, that is pretty cool. The best closing round in the events history that 66 final round. Juli Inkster joined the "Babe", Babe Didrikson serious is the only two who won two majors after the age of 40. And, of course, the US AM win for you  there in 1980. So pretty cool stories around that whole winning night in 2002. At the US Open? Yeah, it was, you know, I don't know, it was just kind of a deja vu. You know, I just I just, you know, even on Sunday, I knew I was too behind the best player in the world. But I just, I just felt like I could, I could, I could do it. And you know, feeling like you can do it and doing it are two different things. But sometimes in your gut, there's a little extra something in there. And I just, you know, so what's going through your mind now you're, you're you're 43 you just won your seventh major? You're already in the LPGA Hall of Fame. What was the mindset in terms of how long the runway is? Yet? Is the desire still there? You got the kids growing up? Yeah, you know, I just felt like, I always had a passion for golf. And it was never a job for me. And I really would settled in my life. You know, I was able to coach the kids is basketball teams and softball teams. And, you know, I did hot lunch, I was very involved in their stuff. And they still love to travel. They were traveling with me all summer and a little bit during the year. I you know, I was playing as much as I wanted. I didn't you know, I took a lot of two weeks off. You know, and everybody says, you know how long you're gonna play? I you know, I just, I just every year I say what do you guys think? Yeah, you need to play you need to play. Yeah. So what were you playing them 15, 20 events a year, maybe something like Yeah, yeah, yeah. More and more like, yeah. 18 to 20. Yeah, yeah. Yeah. Well, you still had a few wins. Enter. Bruce

 

Devlin, Bruce  13:49

boy. Yeah. How about how about how about the start to the first victory in 2003. The LPGA Corning Classic at Corning Country Club in New York, where you won by four over Laurie Kane, you can now listen to these scores at 66, 68, 67, And then a little 62 for 24 under par. Boy, what a scoring binge that was 11 birdies.

 

Mike Gonzalez  14:20

And now that was when the LPGA implemented. You had to play to every four years you had to play a tournament, you know, so everybody had to go in. And Corning Corning just never set well, for my game. I never played well there. Yeah, it seems like it. Yeah.

 

Devlin, Bruce  14:40

Yeah. Tell me that story again. Yeah.

 

Mike Gonzalez  14:44

I remember I was playing with Beth Daniel the last day or last round. And Beth and I are really good friends. But she was not happy with me because I I mean, I felt like I was putting to a basket. I mean, it was out to make an airman Think. And so I ended up winning and then as you know, winning, you got to come back the next year and I'm like, oh my god, I cannot. But yeah, that was that was one of my better wins. Yeah, yeah. No, it was no surprise to our listeners that that final round 62 and the minus 24. For the total were both tournament records. Yeah. Yeah, it was, it was it was in you know, what? They probably between Rochester and them had the best crowds. I mean, they, they packed them in, and it was actually a lot of fun to play in front of them.

 

Devlin, Bruce  15:35

Yeah. So I do have a question about the second victory in 2003. You actually shot in the 70s. Which, which was a shock after shooting that score. You win. You win the Evian Masters by six over Hee-Won Han. Yeah, you should 66 then that terrible 72, 64, 65, 21 under par again, my goodness.

 

Mike Gonzalez  16:07

And that was great. Because we took the kids over there and the kids each took a friend over there. So we made a vacation. I rented a house and yeah, we you know, I took Tuesday off and we went rafting in and you know, it was just it was a great week. I played awesome the whole week. Even the 72 I think I played well maybe just didn't make the pots but Saturday and Sunday, you know, and the kids came out in the in and watch me win. And then the greatest thing about that is at Evian and they have a plane come over and whoever won the parachute is the like it was the American flag that year because I won so it was it was pretty cool. And I think I had to win to break even that week. Probably so I only question winning by six. Was there water on the last hole? There was water on? Yeah, but I laid up a ticket Well, Bruce, you had one more winner

 

Devlin, Bruce  17:19

Safeway Invitational at Superstition Mountain Golf and Country Club by two over Sarah Lee in 2006. A little gap there between the four and five but yeah, yeah, like we said, life goes on.

 

Mike Gonzalez  17:34

Yeah, life goes on. You know, I still was really enjoying what I was doing. You know, I you know, I was always very, very competitive. And I think when you start having kids and doing kids stuff, I think your desire maybe goes a little weight wayward. But I still enjoyed plan supersystem mountain it was during March Madness and forget that and we had a hail delay. So I went home and watched a little bit of March Madness and came back and and played great on Saturday and Sunday. And it I think I beat Sarah Lee in a playoff. So one thing that usually comes up by this time in someone's career it has with many of our other guests your age 46. At this point, we've not talked about any injuries, your body must be holding up pretty well. Yeah, I mean, I had one injury, I had my elbow. I was out for like six months. I had my elbow injury, but other than that I was I was healthy. Never had any back back trouble. No, I was very, very lucky. Yeah. So so how did you end up winding it down? Was it sort of a gradual thing? Or was it okay? Yeah. No, it was gradual. I mean, I would play, you know, five or six. I just started doing a little TV for Fox. And then, you know, being Solheim cup captains, you know, I was still really involved, but the grind of traveling and playing for days and it just, you know, as Bruce knows, it just kind of wears on. Yeah. Yeah. And, you know, traveling has gotten so hard. It's just it's, it's, you know, it's a pain.

 

Devlin, Bruce  19:25

Yeah, it isn't. You know, Julie, there's one other thing that that you did better than the average great players that we've interviewed. You have a winning playoff record. Yeah. You know, that, you know, we've kept pretty good stats about all this. Yeah, the average person percentage for all these, all of you great champions is like 43% which just shocks me yeah, that's that Low, you know, yeah. It just goes to prove it's sort of a bit of a crapshoot when you get into a playoff. You never know what's going to happen.

 

Mike Gonzalez  20:07

Yeah. What is my proof? What is my playoff?

 

Devlin, Bruce  20:10

six and four? It's a four. Okay, six and four. Yeah. Okay. So I'm pretty good with a

 

Mike Gonzalez  20:17

couple of those in majors.

 

Devlin, Bruce  20:18

Yeah, that's right. Could have given you. Yeah, I guess. Right. I know.

 

Mike Gonzalez  20:22

Yeah. Like I said, you're there. You got to take advantage of it. Yeah, so well, but I had a good I had a good Solheim cup. Individual record. I think only last one. So

 

Devlin, Bruce  20:37

well, 18.5 points. Yeah. And one. Yeah. Very good. Let's

 

Mike Gonzalez  20:42

talk a little bit about that, because you had a chance to play in the second Solheim cup. So you must have missed the first one at Lake Nona. That was was in 1991. Kathy Whitworth was the captain as well. Haley that year by me, ideally that year, Haley Yeah, yeah. So otherwise, you probably would have been there. Yeah, hopefully. Yeah. But ya know, but yeah. But you know what a record 18 and a half points one, the third highest ever for us. Behind Christie Kerr, Paula Creamer. Six, one and two in singles. That's a pretty solid record right there. Yeah. Yeah. Six, one and two. Yeah, I tried. I lost to Helen and I tied Laura Davies and can't remember the other one. Yeah. Should have never lost to Helen. Isn't that something of a record you've amassed and you're agonizing over? What the Solheim Cup during the time you you were associated with became a really big deal. Oh, yeah, it was. It was it was the most fun I had playing in the most nervous I've ever been. It's, it's, it's like you work two years to get there. And you're and you're like, Why? Why? Because I'm just a nervous wreck. But, you know, I was fortunate I had a lot of great partners. You know, I played with Dottie Pepper a lot. I played with Paula a lot. So you get some camaraderie. I was usually paired with those guys in the ultimate shot. And I that was my favorite, the whole ultimate shot because when it's going well, it's like a beautiful dance. And when it's not going well, we're stepping on toes. But we're so accustomed to playing force Miss play here in the US. Oh, I know. I know. And that's I mean, we always sucked at it. I mean, we always we would do great individuals and some of the best balls but alternate shot we were always lose. And we finally tried to figure it out when we had these practice rounds is is you know, pre pre tournaments is Don't play your own just play alternate shot. Everybody played alternate shot, and we finally started getting a little more comfortable with it. Yeah, well, you played in a few of them, didn't you? I did. Fortunate to play I think nine, nine of them. So yeah, captains include Kathy Whitworth, Judy Rankin, Pat Bradley. Patty Sheehan, Nancy Lopez, Betsy King, Beth Daniel, Rosie Jones, quite a lineup of captains. Yeah, that's I mean, all the people I grew up playing with and playing, playing against, you know, different eras. But everybody, you know, everybody, captains a different way. And, and the bottom line is that players have to play. I mean, you can be the best captain in the world. And, you know, if your team plays like crap, you're gonna lose. So, you know, in my mind, I think everybody just tried to make it fun and try to make it relaxed. And you know, every everyone, everyone was different, but I enjoyed every one of them.

 

Devlin, Bruce  24:13

Or you did something you did something in 2011 That was a little different. Right? You were an assistant cat. Oh, yeah. And you played on the team?

 

Mike Gonzalez  24:27

Yeah, that was a cluster. I wouldn't recommend that for anybody.

 

Devlin, Bruce  24:34

I didn't think

 

Mike Gonzalez  24:36

it was it was way too hard. You know, those guys. I should have never played it should have just been the assistant captain. But I mean, they just taught me you're playing you know, playing good teams wants you and I just, it was just it was really hard. I did that was probably my least favorite Solheim and, and for me to say that because I loved all of them. I do It was just, it was just I was just a mental midget that week. Tough. Well, you had a few opportunities to be captain as well. And Bruce and I have talked to several losing Ryder Cup captains. And they made the same point you made about the players play. We didn't hit any shots. Yeah, it you know, you try to set them up for success on you know, they're playing partners and stuff that I, when I first was named captaincy, I got my top players together, and I just feel like everybody was playing for themselves instead of playing for the team. And I think a lot of that came from personalities, not everybody not knowing, you know, I think you're born with who you are. And it's hard to change in Stacy Lewis was our number one player and, but she was not a vocal leader. And I think everybody was like, Well, why is she say something? Right? And that's just not who she is. So I really had everybody take a personality test and and then we got together and I had the lady come out and unexplained the test. And and I think that's when everybody realized, you know, you're, you're born with who you are. And so I put them in pods. I you know, I had the princess pod who this? Yeah, why they told how good they look and why they wanted to talk. And then I had kind of the quiet pod, they just kind of want to go out and do their own thing. And then it kind of had a little bit of mixture. And, and everybody played within their pod. And, you know, it really worked really brought the team together. It didn't, I thought it might separate them. But every pod was competitive, competitive with each pod and you know, the pods would have that eat together and they they work out together. And it was just we had we had the best time and we ended up come on way back to when, which was, which was amazing. But I think you know, in all my career, I've done a lot of good things, but being the captain of the Solheim cup was probably the greatest thing I've done. Speaking of that, can you think of one moment that brought you the most joy during your Solheim cup career? You know, I, I mean, you know, winning in Germany was great. But I just think the joy to have Solheim Cup is being together and and the stories that each player passes or down to each generation is is great the dinners. You know, I think we by far we had our best party after Germany. That was That was great. Luckily, I had lasix by then. So no one had to take the contacts out of my eye.

 

Devlin, Bruce  28:05

You don't mean to say that you had an alcoholic beverage.

 

Mike Gonzalez  28:09

The first time we actually got to drink out of the Solheim Cup. So that's great. Yeah. So it was it was all three of them were different. But I wouldn't I wouldn't trade that for anything. Yeah. Well, you played a little bit post LPGA, you had a few wins, six wins. Another fact on the legends tour. How excited were you guys to win the USGA finally said, Hey, we're gonna have a senior open. Oh, it was awesome. I mean, it's probably 10 years too late, because a lot of the players that, you know, playing or more playing anymore, and, you know, would love to see the worse in and corners. I mean, you know, Joanne played and all, you know, Bradley's and all of them play a little more in their prime than then it was but we got to play Chicago Golf Club for the first time. And that was an amazing Golf Course. And, you know, we had a lot of people come out and watch and support us. And it was it was actually a lot of fun.

 

Devlin, Bruce  29:15

Yeah, yeah. I

 

Mike Gonzalez  29:16

mean, Laura Davies, of course, had a wonderful crush everybody. So you probably felt you were playing pretty well, finishing in second place. But she had a week. She had a week and you know, she she's a great player. And, you know, she hits the ball long way. And she's a great putter and she just she deserved it. She played great. Yeah. So tell us a little bit about some some of the things you've done. Post golf. I know you mentioned the broadcasting, which is something Bruce knows a little bit about having covered the LPGA Tour among others. Yes, yeah. So when Fox got the USGA contract, Mark Loomis  was kind of head of that and he asked me if I'd be interested in working. And I said, Yeah, I'll try it. It's a strangest profession how you want to put a, a great product, but no one tells you how to do it. I mean, I didn't mean, I don't even know how to spell familiar, Bruce, I didn't know how to turn on the microphone to talk. But in then you think you're gonna go back to the compound and get a little feedback and everybody's gone. So yeah, just kind of have to figure it out. But I enjoyed it. I didn't love it. I just felt like, you know, we would start in May, and then in August, and then I finally figured I was kind of getting a little better. And July and August, and then we were done again. And then we went start to make again, and then you're just starting all over. And I just looked at the broadcasts like CBS and NBC and  they do it every week, they get a little feel of who's coming in who's getting out. And I just, I just, I never felt like I was I felt like I was okay at it. But I never felt like I was great at it. And I don't know, I enjoyed it, because I liked the people I worked with, but I didn't I don't miss it. Yeah, you know, we've talked to Dottie Pepper, JoAnne Carner, Curtis Strange he and Baker-Finch. The list goes on and on of people that have been in broadcasting, and their story is all the same as Bruce's is you get no help. No advice, no feedback. What's What's up with that? That didn't make any sense. I gotta go ahead.

 

Devlin, Bruce  31:39

No, I was gonna say I got a little advice. My advice was from a gentleman that just passed about 12 months ago, Don Ohlmeyer, he said to me, I'm gonna give you one piece of advice. What you see the same people see the people that are watching the television see in their living room, so don't tell them what you see. Because they can see what you see. You're job, your job is to tell them stories about the people you're following. They're sweating. They're their little idiosyncrasies, but don't go. Don't tell them about what 49

 

Mike Gonzalez  32:22

are, you know, right on account. Yeah, I think Yeah. Yeah. And, you know, it's hard, you know, it's like, when to jump in, when to jump out, you know, in being on the ground is way different than, you know, being in the booth. And you know, it you know, it was a good four or five year run, but I'm fine. Yeah. Well, you you certainly won a lot of awards and accolades had some fine recognition. I don't know which one you'd put on top. I mean, some of the cool ones to me, in addition to the Hall of Fame, LPGA World Golf Hall of Fame. 2000 ESPY Awards must have been fun. Yes, it was. That was great. But I think the highlight was winning the Bob Jones award last year. I mean, yeah, absolutely. Thank you. Yeah, that's great. I mean, that's you, you, you feel like you had a great career, you feel like you did it. Right. And then to be recognized for that. And then, you know, having your kids stand up there and introduce you. You know, it doesn't get any better than that. Because, you know, I had a lot of lean years struggling trying to figure out a good parent, a bad parent, and, you know, we ended up doing it doing okay.  Proud Mama,

 

Devlin, Bruce  33:40

yeah. Patty Berg Award as well, in 2009. And, you know, you know, Julie, we're sort of getting to the end here, but we don't let our guests get away without answering three questions. Okay. Right. And I'm gonna let Mike ask you the first question. Oh,

 

Mike Gonzalez  34:00

well, that's nice of you. So the first question is, you're 20 years old again. But you know, then what you know now, what would you have done differently? I don't know. I think life throws you curveballs and you got to figure it out. I'm not sure I would change my journey. I think it made me be a better mom made me be a better golfer. Brian still thinks I'm not a great wife, but that's okay. But I think it makes you the person you are so I'm not sure I would change much or if anything.

 

Devlin, Bruce  34:47

Okay, so my question is, I'm gonna give you one Mulligan, where would you take it?

 

Mike Gonzalez  34:57

I would take it in the 92  Dinah Shore playoff against Dottie I just finished and and then they because of TV they rushes us over to the tee. And mentally I was not ready to go yet. And I would have taken I would you just said, Hey, I need 10 minutes instead I just let them rush me to. And I that's that's where I'd take my Mulligan good Bruce, you can ask the last one.

 

Devlin, Bruce  35:31

 Oh, okay, I get to do two today. So how, how would you like to be remembered? Ah

 

Mike Gonzalez  35:42

see? Fun a great player, a good, a good player, a great grinder played the game the way it should be played. had respect for the game and for their peers or peers.

 

Devlin, Bruce  36:06

Well, we have I have one statement to make. And that is, thank you so much for your time today. It's been fun having you with us and, and we were just thrilled. And what a great record. Thank

 

Mike Gonzalez  36:22

you too. I admire your game for a long time. And Mike, thank you for putting up with my my no shows on email and stuff like that. I'm horrible at that. So, but I've really enjoyed it. I'm glad I'm glad I got to be together with you two. Well, as you can imagine, Juli, we're having so much fun telling these stories. And we're so happy to add yours to the collection

 

Inkster, Juli  36:48

I'm gonna listen that Joanne Carner one I'm gonna go download that one.

 

Devlin, Bruce  36:53

By the way, you number 70

 

Inkster, Juli  36:57

That's good. I like that number. Not a bad, not a bad score. Yeah. Still under par!

 

Mike Gonzalez  37:05

Thank you for listening to another episode of for the good of the game. Please, wherever you listen to your podcast on Apple and Spotify. If you like what you hear, please subscribe. Spread the word. Tell your friends until we tee it up again. With the good of the game. So long everybody.

 

Music playing  37:26

Inkster, JuliProfile Photo

Inkster, Juli

golf Professional

Juli Inkster is almost as proud of her daytime job as a Hall of Fame golfer as she is of her fulltime job as a mother of two girls, Hayley and Cori.

Inkster’s achievements as an amateur alone are almost deserving of placement in the World Golf Hall of Fame. She learned the game at Pasatiempo Golf Club in Northern California, where she practiced before and after school every day. Like many of the juniors her age she applied for a job at the golf course to gain extra playing privileges and started out parking carts and picking up range balls before graduating to being the “shop girl.” That’s where she met her future husband, Brian, a pro who recognized Juli’s untapped potential.

Inkster captured three U.S. Women’s Amateur titles between 1980-1982. “When I look back at it now I don’t know how in the world I won three in a row because in match play you get somebody hot and you’re out of there,” said Inkster. “It’s probably my best accomplishment as a golfer, either professional or amateur.” Before turning pro, she also won the 1981 California Amateur, represented the United States on the Curtis Cup team in 1982 and was a collegiate All-American at San Jose State four years.

Inkster graduated to the LPGA Tour in 1983 and won her first title in only her fifth start. She became the first LPGA rookie to win two Major Championships in one season: the 1984 Nabisco Dinah Shore and the du Maurier Classic. Suddenly, she was the brightest young star in women’s golf.

Inkster was a consistent winner during the 1980s, winning four times in 1986 and collec… Read More