Juli Inkster: Bio, Stats, News, and Net Worth
 | Name: Juli Simpson Inkster |
Date of Birth: June 24th, 1960 | |
Birth Place: Santa Cruz, California | |
Nationality: American | |
Height: 5 ft 7in (1.7m) | |
Net Worth: $14 million | |
Debut: Professional debut in 1983 |
Juli Simpson Inkster is the only professional golfer in LPGA Tour history to win two majors in a decade for three consecutive decades. She secured three majors in the 1980s, two in the 1990s, and two more in the 2000s.
Recognizing her outstanding contributions to the sport, Inkster was inducted into the LPGA Hall of Fame in 1999 and the World Golf Hall of Fame in 2000. These honors reflect her immense talent, dedication, and impact on the game of golf.
I. Early Life of Juli Inkster
Juli Inkster was born on June 24, 1960, in Santa Cruz, California. She showed her determined and competitive nature from a young age. Juli Inkster’s sporting roots run deep – her father, Jack Simpson, played professional baseball in the 1950s, while her older brothers, Danny and Mike, were good at sports as kids. She showed her determined and competitive nature from a young age.
She excelled in various sports during her school years, including track, swimming, softball, basketball, and tennis. Before taking up golf, Juli worked at Pasatiempo Golf Club as a golf ball diver, picking up balls on the driving range, where she developed a passion for the game.
II. Amateur Career
At the age of 15, Juli immersed herself in golf, practicing and playing with unwavering dedication. She joined the Harbor High School Boys’ Golf Team and achieved success in tournaments alongside her male teammates. Her remarkable improvement led to her being voted as Pasatiempo’s Most Improved Golfer in 1978.
Juli’s talent and dedication earned her a golf scholarship to San Jose State University, marking the beginning of her outstanding journey in golf.
III. Professional Career
1. LPGA Tour
Juli Inkster had an impressive start to her professional career, winning the Safeco Classic in 1983. In her first full LPGA season in 1984, she claimed victory in two major championships and earned the title of LPGA Rookie of the Year.
2. Solheim Cup Captaincy
Inkster has been a prominent figure in the Solheim Cup, representing the United States on numerous occasions. She played in the prestigious event in 1992, 1998, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2005, 2007, 2009, and 2011, accumulating an impressive total of 18.5 points.
Inkster also made history as the oldest player and the first playing assistant captain in Solheim Cup history. She took on the role of captain for the United States team in 2015, leading them to a historic comeback victory.
3. Senior Career
In addition to her success on the LPGA Tour, Inkster has made her mark on the Legends Tour, winning four tournaments. She also achieved a second-place finish in the 2018 U.S. Senior Women’s Open, further demonstrating her skills and competitiveness.
IV. Juli Inkster Career as a commentator
Since 2014, Inkster has ventured into the field of golf broadcasting. She began her career as a golf commentator for the Golf Channel, providing insights and analysis. In 2015, she joined Fox Sports as a commentator, contributing to their coverage of USGA events.
V. Major Achievements Of Juli Inkster
Juli Inkster has had an incredibly successful career in professional golf, securing seven Major wins and accumulating a remarkable total of 212 top-10 finishes.
She holds numerous records, including:
- LPGA tour: 31 wins
- Ladies European tour: 2 wins
Here is a list of Inkster’s extraordinary accomplishments, categorized by major championships:
| S.No | Tournament | Year |
| 1. | U.S. Women’s Open | 1999, 2002 |
| 2. | LPGA Championship | 1999, 2000 |
| 3. | Nabisco Dinah Shore | 1984, 1989 |
| 4. | Du Maurier Classic | 1984 |
| S.No | Tournament | Year |
| 1. | Safeco Classic | 1983, 1988 |
| 2. | McDonald’s Championship | 1986 |
| 3. | Samsung World Championship | 1997, 1998, 2000, |
| 4. | Lady Keystone Open | 1985 |
| 5. | Women’s Kemper Open | 1986 |
| 6. | Atlantic City LPGA Classic | 1986, 1988 |
| 7. | Crestar Classic | 1988, 1989 |
| 8. | LPGA Bay State Classic | 1991 |
| 9. | JAL Big Apple Classic | 1992 |
| 10. | Welch’s/Circle K Championship | 1999 |
| 11. | Longs Drugs Challenge | 1999, 2000 |
| 12. | Safeway LPGA Golf Championship | 1999, 2006 |
| 13. | Electrolux USA Championship | 2001 |
| 14. | Chick-fil-A Charity Championship | 2002 |
| 15. | LPGA Corning Classic | 2003 |
| 16. | Evian Masters | 2003 |
VI. Awards And Recognitions
Juli Inkster, right from her amateur and professional career, has been a recipient of numerous awards and recognitions. Here are some of the awards and recognitions bestowed upon her:
- Broderick Award for Golf: 1982
- LPGA Rookie of the Year: 1984
- GWAA Female Player of the Year: 1999
- World Golf Hall of Fame: 2000
- ESPY Awards Best Female Golfer: 2000
- LPGA William and Mousie Powell Award: 2004, 2015
- GWAA ASAP/Murray: 2009
- LPGA Patty Berg Award: 2009
- Bob Jones Award: 2022
The Memorial Tournament presented by Workday has bestowed a remarkable honor upon Juli Inkster. She has been chosen as the esteemed Honoree for the 49th edition of this prestigious event. Organizers of the tournament, based in Dublin, Ohio, have announced that the Captains Club unanimously selected Juli Inkster.
As the golfing community comes together to pay tribute to her illustrious career and unmatched passion for the game, the 2024 Memorial Tournament promises to be a momentous occasion, celebrating the enduring legacy of one of golf’s most celebrated athletes.
VII. Personal Life Of Juli Inkster
Juli Inkster, in addition to her remarkable golfing career, has a fulfilling personal life. She has been married to Brian Inkster since 1980, and their marriage has spanned over four decades. The couple had been dating for several years before tying the knot, and together they have built a strong and enduring partnership.
Juli and Brian Inkster together had two daughters, Hayley Inkster, and Cori Inkster, shortly after their marriage. When Juli is not on the golf course, she enjoys spending quality time with her loved ones. She credits her family’s support for her success in golf.
Recently when Juli Inkster won the Bob Jones Award, her daughters were by her side to celebrate.
VIII. Juli Inkster Net Worth
According to reports, Juli Inkster’s net worth is estimated to be around $14 million. This includes her annual salary from her various endorsement deals, tournament winnings, and appearance fees. In 29 years of her golfing career, Juli has raked in more than $10 million from tournaments alone.
IX. Juli Inkster Foundation
In September 2021, Juli Inkster announced the launch of her foundation – Juli Inkster Foundation.
The foundation aims to provide support and opportunities for young athletes, particularly in the field of golf. Its mission is to inspire and empower the next generation of athletes by providing them with access to resources, mentorship, and financial assistance to pursue their athletic dreams.
Through the Juli Inkster Foundation, Juli has been actively involved in promoting junior golf programs and scholarships. The foundation organizes fundraising events and tournaments to generate funds that are used to support aspiring young athletes.
By offering financial aid and mentorship programs, the foundation seeks to remove barriers and create pathways for talented individuals to excel in their athletic pursuits.
Moreover, she also started the Juli Inkster Awards in 2021, which will be given every year to the top-performing female athlete at a college or high school level. This award will help motivate more female athletes to pursue their dreams and achieve excellence in the field of sports.
X. Interesting facts
Here are some interesting facts about Juli Inkster:
- Juli Inkster has been actively involved in philanthropy. She established the Juli Inkster Foundation, which aims to provide support and opportunities for young athletes.
- Inkster has received numerous honors throughout her career, including induction into the World Golf Hall of Fame in 2000.
- Inkster ventured into a broadcasting career, working as a golf commentator.
- Juli Inkster made history as the oldest player and the first playing assistant captain in Solheim Cup history.
- In her first full LPGA season in 1984, Juli Inkster won two major championships and was named the LPGA Rookie of the Year.
- Before focusing on golf, Inkster participated in various sports during her school years. She excelled in track, swimming, softball, basketball, and tennis.
