THE MODERATOR: Joining us ahead of the Dow Championship is Juli Inkster and Angel Yin. First of all, can you just tell us how this partnership came to be for this week?
ANGEL YIN: Sorry, Juli asked me two years ago and didn't work out, and then this year I was like, well, has to be it because we can't wait any longer.
JULI INKSTER: Yeah, I asked her maybe jokingly, let's go do that Dow thing. Then we have been friends since the Solheim Cup in 2017.
ANGEL YIN: Yeah.
JULI INKSTER: In Des Moines. She comes and sees me in the desert and we hang out. I just really enjoy being around her and I like her energy. Well, less energy, but I like the way she just -- she's fun.
I just thought it would be really fun, and then she kept, let's do it this year, let's do it this year. I'm like, I don't know, I don't know. But you know what? I got to a point where, why not? Best ball she can carry me. Alternate shot she can carry me half the shots.
And, you know, we'll have a good time and in this stage of my life that's kind of what I want to do, I just want to just enjoy myself.
THE MODERATOR: Like you be mentioned, this is a really fun event. The whole community comes out and supports. What are you looking forward to this week, and then on golf course specifically what do you think your strategy is going to be?
JULI INKSTER: Well, I was here in the inaugural press conference I think it was 2018 maybe. I just love the community and how they get behind it. You look at all the volunteers and little kids and families out there, for us to come out and showcase in a place like this it's really grown and connected with community and the charities and stuff, I think it's great.
As far as strategy, I think the less we know the better off we'll be.
ANGEL YIN: Yeah. Honestly, strategize too much we're overthinking, right? Just need to play.
JULI INKSTER: Yeah. Exactly. But she's going to do odds and I'm going to be evens. That's probably the only strategy we have.
And I know I'm going to hit some really bad shots and put her in some really awkward places. But, you know, she's a hell of a player. She'll get out of them. If she doesn't, we'll just move on.
ANGEL YIN: Yeah, hopefully I do that.
Q. Juli, for you, you've been around the Tour for over 40 years. How have you seen the Tour grow and change, and what gives you a lot of joy about the places you play? You obviously play a huge mentorship role. How do you feel like the stage of the LPGA Tour is right now?
JULI INKSTER: Their games are amazing. Just up and down the range watching the techniques, I mean, they've grown up with all the advantages, the videos, the physios, swing speeds, you know, traveling.
So the game has definitely changed, and just watching the Open last week and the way they played Riviera, I just think it's great for us to play really cool golf courses like that where the men have played and it's been on their tournament schedule forever.
Finally the women get a chance to play it, kind of like Pebble Beach. I was at the Memorial last week, Jack's tournament, and I can't tell you how many guys came up to me and said, hey, we're really looking forward to seeing the women out there playing Riv. It's one of our favorite golf courses.
So I just think the women's game, Craig is doing a good job. We just got to just keep pressing ahead and keep building momentum. We need that from the players. The players really have to -- we have to work a lot harder than the guys, and we need the players to keep doing that.
Q. Angel, similar question for you. You've been a Girls Golf ambassador. You are very much a role model for a lot of young girls. What does being in that position mean to you and what is your piece of advice for girls getting into the game?
ANGEL YIN: For the girls first getting into the game, I feel like because we have such a big platform, I think a lot of parents have the pressure to have them be out here, but I think the most important thing is really to just have fun because if you don't -- you're doing this for essentially a lifetime. Juli has been doing this and she's having a lot of fun. I've never seen somebody so happy to be on the range bashing golf balls.
She was playing in the rain with me yesterday. Part of the grind, you have to have some kind of enjoyment. If not, it just takes a toll on the mental and physical and everything. It's not worth it because life is too long for that.
JULI INKSTER: Short.
ANGEL YIN: Short.
JULI INKSTER: You're long; I'm short.
ANGEL YIN: Yeah, that's probably my main thing.
And it's been an honor to be picked to be an ambassador for Girls Golf. I never was a part of the program growing up, but playing in Southern California we have programs where they allow to play in twilight for a dollar. Those help because greens fees are expensive and playing golf is expensive.
The programs help get the kids into it. It's really fun to be out there, too, especially since you have the opportunity to do so. So, yeah, it's been a lot of fun getting to meet everybody doing small things. Never been a perfect person to do massive things. I like to do small things here and there, and I think it's really -- I meet a lot of people along the way.
Q. Juli, you touched on how you and Angel have known each other for a long time, since she was a captain's pick in 2017. Talk about how this relationship started and how this relationship has grown over the years?
JULI INKSTER: Yeah, well, I picked her not for personality, but for her game, but she was young and I just felt like I could help her on and off the golf course. You know, she had a place in LA and Judy Rankin is down there, too. So invited her down and she would hang out with us.
Like Angel said, I mean, golf is hard and golf is lonely. You got to have some people that you can rely on and know that they're going to be there for you. You know, I'll just shoot her a text once in a while or call her. I don't really ever get a response, but she knows that I'm there.
But it's like she said -- how old are you?
ANGEL YIN: I don't really know. Usually ask Sharquisha. I think I stopped at 25.
JULI INKSTER: No, what are you?
ANGEL YIN: 27.
JULI INKSTER: And I'm 65. But you know what? We have fun together, whether we're going out to dinner or cooking dinner at home or playing golf. It's not -- there is not really a sport that brings so many different not only age difference but diversity together that can enjoy a game like this.
And so it's been an amazing ride for me. I just -- like Angel said, I love the game. I love what it's done for my family and where I've gotten to be, travel, people I've met, housing people, volunteers, tournament directors. You know, if you are open to meeting people, they're there forever.
It's been great.
Q. Angel, same question on having Juli as de facto your mentor over the years.
ANGEL YIN: Yeah, actually like going back to 2017 Solheim when she picked me I thought it was the craziest thing because Cristie Kerr was also there. You know, growing up like the way I felt like things went was you got to be good but also you have to have a relationship of some sort.
So not saying we're going to go back doors and everything is corrupt, but I always felt like you had to have some sort of relationship. With Juli it was nothing like that. I just -- the whole entire year I knew I needed to play good. I was never a part of the team ever, but I just knew I needed to play good and she was always there to like put me up.
But the moment she picked me I was really in shock. She really just looked at my game and that was it. I think that really gave me a lot of hope for a lot of things. I mean, Chinese heritage growing up, you are still very Chinese, especially since I'm first immigrant, my mom came over.
Yeah, really told me what America is all about that I've always believed, because everybody has the fair opportunity to be whatever you want. And if you work for it, that's the way it is.
Anyways, kind of off topic. Yeah, it's been amazing. Judy Rankin makes the best pork chops that I know of.
JULI INKSTER: She does make some good pork chops.
ANGEL YIN: We been through a lot. I pushed you in a wheelchair.
JULI INKSTER: Yeah, I know. Then we're here, we're playing golf together as a team. It's kind of funny.
Q. This event, Juli, you mentioned you were part of the inaugural press conference here. It's in year seven. LPGA Tour, as you guys know, goes to big markets, medium markets; this is the smaller market on the LPGA Tour, but the entire city comes out in droves for this tournament. As a players, Juli, especially for you who has played in almost every city in the country, what does it mean like when not you'll see on Thursday just the lines of fans and little girls lined up on the tee box cheering you on?
JULI INKSTER: And little boys.
Q. And little boys.
JULI INKSTER: Yeah, you know, since I started we have always crushed small towns. Rochester, Corning.
ANGEL YIN: Des Moines was great.
JULI INKSTER: Des Moines was great for the Solheim Cup. And because I think once you start you kind of develop this relationship with the players and community, I think the bigger markets you go it's to more of a business. You don't really have that partnership. You don't really build relationships. You go and play golf and come back.
Angel is staying in private housing this week and they're great. When I was a rookie I probably stayed in private housing 90% of the time, and I still keep in to touch with probably 60% of them.
Those are small-community relationships that at 65 you're still entrusted and involved in.
ANGEL YIN: Yeah, I think it's pretty cool because the bigger -- I mean, not that it's a bad thing, but we go to bigger cities, and from my rookie year to now, you feel like it's just more work. Back then, you have opportunities. I was a little bit scared in the rookie years to do housing just because I was never really accustomed to that. Once I did it, I still keep in to touch with pretty much everybody that's hosted me.
It's always been really great to get together at the end of the day, have dinner, meet the family. Like this week the family is great. They've always been a big support of golf and the community. They don't work for Dow. They're dentists.
JULI INKSTER: Yeah.
ANGEL YIN: Yeah, everybody has a story and getting to know everybody is great.
JULI INKSTER: Free teeth cleaning.
ANGEL YIN: That's what I was saying. Scared to smile too much.
Q. What have you learned from each other over the years?
JULI INKSTER: Well, I've learned from Angel, you know, I love watching her game. Angel always comes across sometimes like kind of carefree and whatever, but she's a very loyal friend, and I know if I do need something she would answer my texts.
ANGEL YIN: I always reply mentally. But, yeah.
JULI INKSTER: You know, friendships, I take them seriously and I consider Angel a friend. So, I mean, I've just learned how to be a good friend.
ANGEL YIN: What I've learned from her is really just resilience and the love. If you do it right, you can do it forever. That's something really hard to see, because being out on Tour and being -- like growing up with kids that you play with, a lot of them during college get so burnt out they don't want to see the golf club. It's in the closet hidden away, locked up.
It's really sad to see, to be honest. And then obviously as they get married, their spouse pushes them to play a little bit. They get back into the game again. It's not as harsh. It was so harsh to be able to pick up a golf club. Or people that decide to retire can't look at their clubs or go to a golf course. They're just disgusted by it to be honest.
And then a few years later they pick it up again. I just feel like that little dip is meant to be happening for them but it is really harsh to see the reality how we can get so burnt out. To see Juli whacking through bags of golf balls after nine holes, that's special.
Q. Juli, in your many years of golf, LPGA has seen a lot of changes. We've seen a lot more television coverage, bigger purses, more courses, more young women playing the game. How would you assess the LPGA today compared to when you started?
JULI INKSTER: Well, I mean, I just think women's golf, not only the professional side but the girls that are growing up, and, hey, it's okay to play golf. Hey, it's okay to play on the boy's team. Hey, it's okay to play from the guys' tees. I know COVID really has elevated women's golf outside of professional golf. Just women that are playing golf and families that are playing golf. When you get to mom and dad and the kids are involved and they're all playing, it doesn't become a job. It's fun.
But as far as professional-wise, I mean, as Angel said, when I -- I didn't start playing until I was 15, so first time I played out of California I was qualified for the Amateur -- or the Open at 17. First time I ever played outside of California.
Now at 12, 13, 14, they're playing around the world. They're playing every week. I think to Angel's statement there, I just think it's a lot of golf and it's a lot of pressure for 12, 13, 14 year olds to compete.
I think that's why you don't see really the longevity in the game these days like it used to be. We used to have players playing in their 40s and late 30s, 40s. Again, also people want to have kids. I had kids on the Tour. We didn't have maternity leave or daycare, so at six weeks I was out traveling with Hayley.
Now they have maternity, daycare, and a lot of people, they've played since they're 13 and now they're 30 so they've played 17 years and don't want to play anymore. They want to have a family. I get that. I got married when I was 20 and didn't have Hayley until I was 30.
It's just different circumstances and why people retire. I think a lot of it is because playing so much golf at such a young age. I mean, I have to say if I ever went into the trailer, the physio room, there is 20, 21, 22 year olds. I go, what's wrong with your body, you know? I'm 52 back then.
So it's just different. Golf has gotten to be so big, so universal, that, I don't know, I just think chasing your dream at 12, 13, 14, traveling all over the world, I'm not sure that's the best thing to do.
I always know that I don't hit golf balls until I have the desire to hit golf balls. I mean, I might go -- when I took two weeks off, I waited until I was like, God, I can't wait to go to the range. That's kind of the way I still do things.
I'll take a week off and I won't hit a ball. Then I'm like oh, my God, I can't wait to go to the range. I just think when you have to do something and you have to have to have to, it wears on you mentally.
Q. Angel, you've been nominated for the Dow Impact Award. What does what mean to you and to see Dow give back in that way?
ANGEL YIN: Well, I'm really shocked. Actually, I'm still shocked since the day they told me. Well, they told Jaquisha and then Jaquisha told me in shock and we were both in shock until now.
Yesterday we did the Dow Impact Award videos and stuff and they were asking me questions and I went blank. I don't know what to say. I'm still in shock.
It's been such a huge honor to be selected because I know there is a lot of good people that were in the running. I don't know, just I can't believe it. Can you believe it?
JULI INKSTER: I can't believe it. No, I can believe it. Yes, I think sometimes you play this game and you don't feel like you're getting anything out of it and you get something like that and you're like, all right, maybe I am doing something right.
That helps.
ANGEL YIN: Yeah, I mean, honestly really shocked. I've never done a lot of stuff with big organizations. I've always cherished small things. I grew up actually volunteering at homeless shelters for Thanksgiving, turkeys and Christmas here and there. I don't do it as much.
Yeah, grew up doing that. Never felt like it was anything. Just feels like something that you need to do.
I guess with this nomination my part will be just every day doing your duties, like what you're supposed to do to be a good person, right? It's not something we need to go out of our way to do.
Yeah, so honored. I can't believe it. Yeah, it's been such a thrill. I've been telling everybody. I don't know if I was supposed to be telling anybody.
Q. Juli, I would be remiss not to ask you what played out on Sunday at Riviera, such a special moment for Nelly. As and LPGA Hall of Famer, U.S. Women's Open champion, can you just react to what Nelly is doing?
JULI INKSTER: Oh, yeah, I think that the TV was great. I think the excitement was great with Charley making that putt and Gaby making a birdie.
I think the tournament showed really well on TV. Like I said, at the Memorial the guys were -- and I'm sure a lot of them tuned in to watch.
But Nelly has been very consistent since she got out here. Funny story is when I was in Singapore, LPGA player rookies had to do a pro-am, shadow a player. Jessica Korda shadowed me for nine holes.
So we were talking and I was learning a little bit more about her family. She goes, oh, yeah, my sister is younger than me and she's way more competitive than me and she's going to be way better than me.
I'm like, I don't -- I doubt that because you're pretty good. And you know what? Nelly is very competitive. She wants to be No. 1. Some people don't want that. Some people don't want that limelight. She wants that. I think you got to have a little bit of that in you, that you're not afraid to put yourself out there.
But what she's done for women's golf in this era has been amazing. I'm super happy for her. You know, it's just a matter of time before she gets in the Hall of Fame. What's she, 28? Yeah. She's pretty impressive. I was 39, so...
But doesn't matter. Still in.
Q. You talked about the mentor/mentee relationship. This may be the impetus. So Juli, you have the Inkster Award, which is a mentor/mentee award. You announced the winner at the Memorial last week. What you and Angel and Judy were talking about may be the impetus for this. How important is that for you to continue to mentor not only Angel but to mentor the players that are coming out of college and the next generation of golf?
JULI INKSTER: Yeah, it's a great award to have my name on just because it's mano-e-mano. Not like I put my name on something and I don't follow through with every communicating with them. Megha Ganne won this year.
To me, I'm really -- I like following through, and if you say you're going to do something you do it. Playing four years at your college and representing your team and your coach and your school, it meant a lot to me to put my name on that.
These girls are really coming from college and having everything done for them. When to practice, what to wear, reservations, hotels, all that. And then all of a sudden you get on tour and I know they probably all have teams and everything, but it's still a different animal going from college golf to pro golf.
You're going to have those ups and downs where, hey, you were No. 1 in the country or you're No. 1 in your team and you were the GOAT, and now all of a sudden you're playing at 6:45, you're off the first tee and you're playing with people you don't know and you're practicing with people you don't know.
So to me it's just like, hey, I'm here. They spend a couple days with me. I'm here if you need to talk. I've been up here, down here, I've been all aspects of the Money List, and I know you're going to have some ups and downs.
I'm not going to -- sometimes your team can really explain that to you, so that's kind of why I do it. I am there to help out and try to navigate the whole professional life.
ANGEL YIN: I think it works, too, because all of yours are pretty much on Tour.
JULI INKSTER: Yeah, they're all doing well, so...
ANGEL YIN: Yeah.
Q. Last one, is can you tell us your team name and your walk-up song?
ANGEL YIN: That's all you. I know the name. I don't know the song. We'll sing it ourselves.
JULI INKSTER: Yeah, there you go.
ANGEL YIN: Give us some mics.
JULI INKSTER: We're going to go Frick and Frack.
ANGEL YIN: Yeah, that's our name.
JULI INKSTER: We don't know which is which. Yeah, but we'll figure out that walk-up song.
ANGEL YIN: That or sing it.
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