Still plenty to prove for Juli

Juli Inkster, 40, is a future Hall of Famer who still wins big tournaments and would love to defend her U.S. title.

By BOB HARIG

© St. Petersburg Times, published July 16, 2000

Nobody would blame Juli Inkster if she chose to enjoy the spoils of her success, bask in the glow of her accomplishments, wave to the crowd as she awaits her LPGA Hall of Fame induction later this year.

After all, what is left for a multiple-major winner?

Apparently plenty.

Inkster looks to defend her U.S. Women's Open title this week at the Merit Club in suburban Chicago, and there is no hint she will be there to simply take in the scenery.

After a late-career surge gave her enough points to earn Hall of Fame honors, Inkster is not slowing down.

Last month, she captured the LPGA Championship, her sixth major title and second victory of the year.

With another major title, Inkster would challenge Karrie Webb and Annika Sorenstam for player of the year honors.

This, after she had seemingly done it all last season by winning five times, including two majors. At age 40, she is adding more hardware to her trophy case.

"It's hard when you have a great year to stay there," said LPGA Hall of Famer Nancy Lopez. "But Juli goes about it one day at a time, one shot at a time. She doesn't worry about a whole bunch of stuff."

And it likely helps that Inkster experienced a healthy dose of humility in the middle of her career.

Before winning five times last year, Inkster had just two victories in the past six years -- once in 1997 and '98. Before that, she had not won since 1992.

"I probably don't give myself as much credit as I should, because I think it keeps me hungry and makes me work hard," Inkster said. "I guess I'm never really satisfied with where I'm at, and maybe when I sit back in my rocking chair at 41, I'll have more thoughts on that.

"But I'm very proud of the way I've carried myself on the golf course and my career and my family, and to be able to do all of it and be successful at it. I feel good about it."

Inkster, the mother of daughters Cori, 6, and Hayley, 10, has won 24 LPGA titles, seven in a little more than a year. During that period, she's captured three of the past five majors, including last year's U.S. Women's Open at Old Waverly in Mississippi.

"It makes my head spin," said Inkster, who with six majors is tied with Pat Bradley, Betsy King and Patty Sheehan for sixth all-time.

At the beginning of 1999, Inkster had 17 wins and almost no hope of qualifying for the Hall. Then the tour changed its entrance requirements, switching to a points system that left her seven short. Inkster figured she had an outside chance. Then she won five tournaments, including two majors, and qualified.

What was left to accomplish this season?

"I thought it was very important for me to get off to a good start, just to let myself know that I'm still there and playing," said Inkster, who captured the Longs Drug Challenge and has four other top-five finishes.

"I'm only playing 20 this year to see if I can, to see if I can compete on a level I'm used to," Inkster said. "To see if I can do it while scaling back."

It appears she is doing just fine.

"She is so well-rounded," said Sheehan, a Hall of Famer. "She's sincere, yet she'll kid around with you, needle you in a way that makes it fun for you. All the players appreciate her sense of humor and they admire her ability to balance her personal life while playing great golf. I know she's my hero."

That appears to be Inkster's biggest goal. While she wants to continue her golf success, she will not do it at the expense of her family.

Inkster will play fewer tournaments this year and next and bring her children with her more. Next week, she said, she has a trip scheduled to Wrigley Field and plans to bring her children to the British Open and the Swedish Open this year.

"I love being a role model," Inkster said. "Hopefully I've brought a little fun to my game. I want people to know I can do both. I want my kids to know that you can have a career and still raise a family."

55th U.S. Women's Open WHEN: Thursday-Sunday.

WHERE: Merit Club, Gurnee, Ill.

COURSE: 6,540 yards, par-72.

DEFENDING CHAMP: Juli Inkster.

PURSE: $2.75-million ($495,000 to the winner).

TV: Thursday-Friday, 2-6, ESPN; Saturday-Sunday, 3-6, Ch. 8.

© St. Petersburg Times. All rights reserved.

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