THE MODERATOR: We welcome seven-time major winner and five-time USGA Champion Juli Inkster to the interview area.
Juli, bizarre last two years since we didn't have one of these. How does it feel to be back at the Senior Women's Open and what's the state of your game?
JULI INKSTER: It feels great to be back. I'm really happy that Brooklawn stuck with us and we were able to come here in 2021 and play, because I've heard so many great things about it. My mom reminded me last week that I actually did play here before, which I didn't know. But she brought out the old photo albums, and yeah, there I was.
So I was a 19-year-old kid then, playing as an amateur. And of course I don't remember anything about it. But I think I should have because it reminds me a lot of the course I grew up on, Pasatiempo, with the undulating greens and the undulating fairways and stuff like that.
But I'm looking forward to it. Yeah, I don't play that much, but a lot of us don't play. So I think we're all looking forward to coming out here and seeing what we can do.
Q. Given this point in your career, how are you building your schedule, playing in a couple LPGA events?
JULI INKSTER: Yeah, I still really love to play. You know, during the pandemic, I was down in La Quinta, we have a place down there and I have a bunch of guys I play with. I love to play for fun. So it's not like I hadn't played at all. I played a couple LPGA events there trying to get ready for this.
You know, for me, this is a big tournament. You know, any time you can win a USGA title, it's big, and last couple years, I finished second.
So I'd like to move up a notch.
Q. You played a practice round yesterday. Just some reactions to the course and how you think it's going to play for this group?
JULI INKSTER: Yeah, I think you've got to drive the ball in the fairway. That's the No. 1 thing, and then get your ball in the right spot on the greens because you could have a 4- or 5-footer and it break, you know, a foot and a half. So you know, I think putting is going to be a huge part of this week.
Q. How did you keep yourself occupied the last two years?
JULI INKSTER: Just worked out. I like to work out. I like to cook. We travelled a little bit. The kids have been over a lot. It's actually been kind of nice, you know, just having the kids home, and I've got two engaged. So we've been hanging out a lot.
You know, I don't know what I do with my day but it seems pretty busy. Going to the liquor store a lot and getting wine, that's for sure.
THE MODERATOR: This event is obviously a competition but people talk about the camaraderie and seeing old friends. Talk about that being this annual function.
JULI INKSTER: Yeah, it's great. I play a little bit on the legends tour so I see them but I'm ecstatic and excited that Annika and is playing and Catriona Matthew is playing and Helen and Laura. We've got a pretty good field here. So I think the more you can have the best players in the field, the higher the quality of golf goes up.
Q. Just the importance of playing in a USGA event for you; you've won some U.S. Women's Open, that kind of level of competition versus just the regular?
JULI INKSTER: Well, it's different. The course is set up different. It's setup pretty legit. They try to test you not only physically but mentally. You know, you've got to kind of plod your way around a U.S. Open or U.S. Amateur golf course. It's not really a race. You've got to kind of, you know, stick with your game plan and out here, you know, I think you're going to have to really attack the par 5s. I think that's where you can make up some ground.
Q. The age range of competitors in this field, you mentioned Annika and then you have JoAnne here. How difficult is it to stage a tournament, create an event that has a place for both those extremes?
JULI INKSTER: Yeah, it's hard, because I mean, you have a big variety of golfers out here. So I think Shannon is trying to do the best she can as far as setting the golf course up. She's done some data. She was talking to us yesterday about how far most people carry the ball and their drive and so she's kind of setting it up that way.
But you know, it's a USGA event and you want to kind of highlight, you know, get the best -- the best winner, so I think you've got to set it up for -- to make it a little bit challenging.
Q. In the preparation for this, what parts of your game do you find that you need to work on most to get ready for a championship like this? Is there any one area?
JULI INKSTER: I think putting is going to be big this week. So you know, Shane Bacon is a good friend of mine. He's a member out here, and so I kind of picked his brain about what I kind of need to work on and he said, you know, bunker game and putting. So that's kind of where I've been focusing.
FastScripts Transcript by ASAP Sports