July 5, 2021
ROUND 4 INTERVIEW
JULY 4, 2021
WILLIE MACK III ( -4)
Q. So, Willie, your first PGA TOUR event in the state of Michigan completed. Are you feeling some sigh of relief or want to tee it up again right away, or how are you feeling over the four days?
WILLIE MACK III: I want to tee it up again. Luckily, I got into John Deere next week, so hopefully I can take this momentum and play well next week.
Q. Excellent. What do you want to say to the people at Rocket Mortgage for giving you the sponsor exemption and giving you this opportunity?
WILLIE MACK III: Yeah, Jason Langwell gave me the spot in here and Dan Gilbert, they’re doing a lot around the Detroit area to help it, so I can’t thank him enough for letting me get an opportunity in my hometown. Hopefully, I will be back here in the coming years.
Q. There’s been a lot of talk about the support for the digital divide in Detroit. Do you think it’s just as bad up in Flint or are you not sure? What do you know about the issues on that topic in your home city?
WILLIE MACK III: I’m really not sure, but just in this Detroit area, he’s doing a great job with that. It’s a lot of families without internet and Wi-Fi and stuff, so it’s good to see somebody come in and be able to help the community out. Hopefully in the future everybody will be able to have a computer and get Wi-Fi.
Q. What was your best of the four rounds this week and why?
WILLIE MACK III: I think the first round, just getting out there and shooting 4 under, it was a good start, but just making the cut and being able to play on the weekend in front of my friends and family is exciting.
Q. You talked about your momentum heading into the John Deere Classic. What are some things that you want to work on or things you’re going to fine tune going into it?
WILLIE MACK III: I need to work on a couple wedge shots, but just getting my putting down. I played that course a couple times, it’s kind of short. Hopefully it doesn’t rain so it won’t play super long. Just kind of got to make a couple more putts and hopefully they’ll fall next week.
Q. I know it’s a little hot outside today and I see you with your arm sleeve. Is that stylistic or is it medical?
WILLIE MACK III: Oh, no, I just wear it for looks. I think I said yesterday I grew up playing basketball and Allen Iverson was my favorite player, so I kind of just thought I would bring it to the golf course.
Q. How long did you play basketball for?
WILLIE MACK III: Through middle school and kind of middle of high school, but I’m not that tall, so I had to stop that pretty quickly.
Q. Was it tough to choose between golf and basketball at the time?
WILLIE MACK III: No. I was way better at golf, so I think I picked the right sport.
Q. What’s your favorite version of Iverson, 76ers or Nuggets, or did you really become a fan when he came to the Pistons?
WILLIE MACK III: I’ve got to go with the 76ers. I was excited to see him at the Pistons, but I think he had his best years in the 76ers.
Q. Have you ever met him in person?
WILLIE MACK III: No, I haven’t.
Q. What were you most pleased with in your game this week?
WILLIE MACK III: I think just my overall game was there. I kind of just burned a lot of edges
this week. I think my driver and my putting was probably the best.
