Mary Ullmer 8y

Juli Inkster scores her own bobblehead for Marlins-Giants game

LPGA

How popular is native daughter Juli Inkster in the Bay Area? Well, while the veteran golfer was making her way around the course in Northern California's Lake Merced for the Swinging Skirts LPGA Classic, the promotions staff of the San Francisco Giants was busy preparing to honor her at Friday night's baseball game against the Miami Marlins.

The Giants are giving away Juli Inkster bobbleheads at the game and she'll also throw out the first pitch. The bobblehead features Inkster holding a golf club and sporting Giants golf attire.

LPGA commissioner Michael Whan weighed in on Inkster's bobblehead, noting there was one of him first (wrong, Mike, but more on that later). Whan did admit, however, Inkster's is cooler and, in all likelihood will be much more popular.

Inkster, who captained the U.S. to a dramatic Solheim Cup victory in 2015 and will lead the team again in 2017, told the San Francisco Chronicle's Tom Fitzgerald, "I've hit the big time -- bobblehead and Solheim Cup captain all in one year."

There's no doubt the winner of 31 LPGA events, including seven majors, is beloved by fans everywhere as well as her fellow LPGA competitors. In fact, this isn't even the first Inkster bobblehead giveaway. Way back in 2003 (Inkster's career started in 1983 and she's 55, for those keeping score at home), the Chick-fil-A Charity Championship near Atlanta gave way Inkster bobbleheads to the first 1,000 fans through the gates each day of the three-day event.

Inkster often has remarked that instead of practicing at the range after a round, she likes to relax with an adult beverage. She'll have ample time to enjoy cold ones at the ballgame after shooting a 74 Friday to leave her at 4 over for the Swinging Skirts event. The projected cut line was 2 over.

^ Back to Top ^