Lickliter, a Franklin High School and Wright State University graduate, is in town this weekend for the Nationwide Tour’s Chiquita Classic at TPC River’s Bend in Maineville.
Lickliter, who turns 41 later this month, answered several questions during a torrential rain that canceled his practice round with three of his buddies.
Q: Is this where you thought you'd be, hoped you'd be when you were about to turn 41?
A: Absolutely. I've had a pretty incredible run so far for a son of a steelworker coming out of Franklin, Ohio. Professionally? No, this is not where I want to be, but this is how I get back to exactly where I want to be.
Q: At this point in your career, is it all about winning?
A: That's my whole focus. That's my mission. Winning is what I want to do. It's not a matter of "if," but "when." It was always a matter of time for me. It's a matter of time before I win again.
Q: Is there a better feeling than winning since you have two Tour wins?
A: It's pretty special when you can say you were the very best for a weekend.
Q: Why did you choose to play on the Nationwide Tour this weekend?
A: There are several reasons for it. Obviously, one is proximity to where I grew up. The fact that it's a brand new tournament. I don't think very many of these guys have played this golf course and I have.
Q: Playing in an event this close to home, is there good and bad?
A: Absolutely. I wouldn't say bad. It would be very easy for my attention to get diverted this week. Actually that's one of the things I need to work on again. The positives are family and friends. I got my babies (twin 2½-year-old sons, Steel Edwards and Storm Edwards) here.
Q: Where is your golf game right now?
A: (Pause) That's probably the hardest question you have asked me. My game is very close to where I want to be. I have the major issues worked out. Now it's just fine-tuning.
Q: What's the difference between a 72 and 68? Putting?
A: It's not just putting. It's the intangibles. It's that playing golf for a living is more than playing golf. It's being able to manage your time. The only way to have any longevity out there is to be stable. For me, playing full exempt for 13 years, my life was pretty stable. It's being able to manage distractions. I'm fortunate enough to have my family (fiancee Diane Owens and sons) with me whenever I want.
Q: What impact did becoming a parent have on your game?
A: It had no affect on my game whatsoever other than it was a distraction that I had no idea how to manage and that's still a learning process.
Q: Did you think one day you'd make $10 million in your career?
A: I never really thought about it. That wasn't why I was doing it. Trust me, I like having cash. I like being able to have options. Let's put it this way: Being out here as long as I have, I've thrown way more money than my dad ever thought about making.
Q: With the situation that Tiger Woods finds himself in, has that changed the Tour at all? Did you see a difference out there?
A: The Tour is much bigger than one person and no matter how many eggs were broken in his basket, the Tour is going to be just fine.
Q: But do the players act any differently?
A: Not that I have noticed. Let put it this way: He's having to learn how to be an adult. Up to this point, I don't think he had anything in his life that made him grow up.
A: How long are you going to be out here on Tour?
A: I plan on being here on the regular Tour until I'm 50. I haven't even thought about the Senior Tour.
Q: You credit your success to who or what?
A: My upbringing, my dad. He taught me how to practice. He taught me how to learn, exactly what I'm looking forward to teaching my kids.
Contact this reporter at (513) 705-2842 or rmccrabb@coxohio.com.
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