KAHUKU — With all the emphasis on the heralded rookies teeing it up in the season-opening SBS Open at Turtle Bay, it was only natural to talk to an LPGA Rookie of the Year.

The year? 1984.

The rookie? Juli Inkster.

"Everybody asks me, why are you still playing? Why not? It's not like I'm going to stay home and eat bonbons all day. This is my job and I enjoy what I do," said Inkster, 48, and mother of two teenage daughters almost the same age as rookies on the women's tour.

Well, so how long will she keep playing? Inkster was asked.

What other goals can there be for someone who has won 31 LPGA events, including seven majors; earned more than $12.4 million in a pro career that stretches back to, well, 1984; and already has been inducted into the LPGA and World Golf Hall of Fame?

Well, Inkster says, how's about an eighth Solheim Cup?

"I would say, if I can play one more Solheim Cup this year," said Inkster, who has played the biennial event between U.S. and Europe seven times. "I'm never going to say, I'm going to retire. But I will definitely not play as much."

The most memorable of her seven Solheim appearances was in 1998, according to Inkster. "Muirfield Village, great venue, Judy Rankin was our captain and we played great," said Inkster, 3-1 that year and the winningest American with 14 victories.

With that in mind, Inkster isn't slowing down a bit and is looking forward to playing in the next two LPGA events in Thailand and Singapore. "I'm going to try and play a little bit starting out and see how I do," she said.

If yesterday's opening-round 3-under-par 69 under wet and windy conditions at the Palmer Course is any indication, Inkster figures to do all right. "I played good, putted well," said Inkster, who felt she left two birdies out there by not birdieing the par-5s on her second nine.

Inkster played in the same threesome with Angela Stanford, who is leading Yani Tseng and Michelle Wie by one stroke with a tournament-tying record 65. But it was Stanford who came away awed by Inkster yesterday.

"She is by far one of the most competitive players I've ever met," said Stanford with a laugh. "I saw her hit a shot today, and she was so fired up with herself, she ended up getting up and down. That's why Juli is one of my favorite players. There's just something that she has that doesn't matter how old you are. If you have that competitiveness, you can always play. That's why, she's still here."

Inkster also laughed when told what Stanford had said.

"I just like the game, I like to play well," Inkster said. "I've always been one that whatever I do, I try to do it 100 percent. It's not like it's a secret. I work out a lot and a lot is mental. You just got to want to play, just want to practice. And I like to practice."

Some of the younger players have a different motivation today, according to Inkster: "Cash, which motivates their parents," Inkster said. Still, she thinks it's great that the LPGA has a lot of new young faces. "I love having them out here. I can relate to them because of my kids."

And what better sport to pursue than golf, Inkster added. "It's a great sport for women. There are two professional sports you can actually make a living at — that's golf and tennis. And golf is a great sport to build your self-confidence and esteem. It's got camaraderie."

Speaking of camaraderie, that's why Inkster keeps on rolling in those putts.

"I've always loved team sports. Played basketball in high school, played softball. You know, golf is one time you can't be a team player. Solheim Cup gives you that avenue to do that."

Her only downer this week is the possibility that the SBS Open might not return next year.

"SBS has been great to us. It's going to be sad, but hopefully maybe we can get someone else to sponsor a tournament here," Inkster said.

"I've been coming to Hawai'i since my rookie year in '84. I always look forward to coming here and my kids look forward to coming here. We just have to wait and see," added Inkster, whose 31 career LPGA victories included the 1986 Women's Kemper Open at Princeville, Kaua'i.

If the LPGA returns, you just know so will Inkster.