Veteran Juli Inkster still a contender to take home ShopRite trophy

GALLOWAY, N.J. - LPGA Hall of Famer Juli Inkster will turn 55 next month. So what was she doing tying for seventh in her most recent start, at last month's Volunteers of America North Texas Shootout, a week after coming in 15th at the Swinging Skirts Classic in San Francisco, her best finish since a 15th at last June's U.S. Open?

Isn't women's golf mostly supposed to belong to teenagers these days?

So maybe there's a time warp going on.

"I love competing," Inkster said at Stockton Seaview Hotel & Golf Club, where the 54-hole LPGA ShopRite Classic tees off tomorrow on the Bay Course. "I love working on my game. I found a really good coach [fellow Californian Jeff Brehaut, a former PGA Tour player] who helped me with my swing. That rejuvenated me a little bit. So that's been fun. I'm not playing that much, but when I do play, I seem to be playing OK."

Inkster, who won three consecutive U.S. Amateurs (1980-82), has 31 victories as a professional, including seven majors. Her finish in Irving, Texas, was her first top-10 since 2011, but she last hoisted a trophy nine years ago. The oldest LPGA winner was 46-year-old Beth Daniels, in 2003.

"It would be a great story, but I don't know if it would change anything," Inkster said. "It wouldn't change what I'm doing. I wouldn't play more. Or less.

"The goal is to to keep building on what I'm doing. The hardest part is just getting out there [to play]. Then you try to hit fairways and greens and add them up."

This is her seventh tournament of the season. She said she plans to play in around 10, and also will captain the U.S. Solheim Cup team against the Europeans in September in Germany. Her husband of 35 years, Brian is with her this week. Her younger daughter Cori, who's 21, has a summer internship with the New York Giants. So she'll be heading down, too. Inkster won the inaugural ShopRite in 1986, four years before her other daughter Hayley was born. She won again two years later, the first time it was played at Sands Country Club (later renamed Greate Bay Resort & Country Club), where it spent a decade. Only fellow Hall of Famers Betsy King and Annika Sorenstam were three-time champions.

"It's neat to come back," said Inkster, who also will be part of the Fox broadcasting team when the network televises its first U.S. Open in three weeks. "We have a lot of fond memories. The fans are great. When I'm out there, it feels like a lot of them are pulling for me, which is awesome."

Well, it would make for some story line.

The LPGA Tour Inkster knew and the one that exists now are obviously very different. That doesn't mean someone her age can't find a way to fit in.

"It's their time to shine," Inkster said of the younger players. "I just enjoy still being able to try and see how I can do against them. That's kind of what I get out of it. We all went to college [back in her day]. These girls are traveling around the world at 12 and 13. The first time I ever played out of California, I was 18. I just kind of fell into it. I didn't know how the whole thing was going to turn out. It's become more of a business. People know what they want to do at early ages. That's kind of the way they're rolling.

"I still hang out with the young ones out here. I guess having two daughters helps. I kind of know what they're going through. I wouldn't do it if it wasn't fun. I'm more than willing to share whatever, whether it's good or bad. I don't know how [relevant] what I've been through is. A lot of them might not feel real comfortable coming up to me and asking me stuff. But I'm more than happy to share my experiences . . .

"I'll give them a lot of crap. 'C'mon, how can you let a 54-year-old beat you?' And they'll needle me right back, which is great. My clubs don't know how old I am. That's kind of the way I look at it. I've been very lucky. My body's held up. I've only had one surgery. I still hit it, not as far but far enough."

The LPGA has a 10-event Legends Tour for players 45 and older. The PGA's Champions Tour, for players 50 and older, has 27.

"Hopefully, we'll grow," Inkster said. "It's sad that the Patty Sheehans, Pat Bradleys, [JoAnne] Carners didn't really have any place to play after [their regular careers]. Golf is a game that you can play forever. It's still probably burning within them, that they really didn't have anywhere to go. I play in a couple of [Legends] tournaments. I like to support them."

When she's not trying to remain at least an occasional factor in the real thing.

"I appreciate it," Inkster said. "I took it for granted [before], definitely. To be able to do what I love to do, how many people can say that? That's why when I'm out here, I take it seriously. I don't just want to be out here. I want to play some good golf."

For as long as she's up to it.

"I've had a great ride," she said. "Believe me, I cannot be sad with what I've got. This is part of who I am. And my family's happy that I'm doing what I want to do. That's what I've kind of taught them."

Who knows? Maybe one day Inkster can even be the first LPGA-winning grandmom.

"No, no, no," she said, laughing. "They've got to get a date first."