Epson Tour’s newest member, Polly Mack, made her professional debut at Ann Arbor’s Road to the LPGA powered by the A2 Sports Commission. The German has been playing golf since she was three years old and steps up to the big stage after five years of collegiate play.
“My grandma brought the sport into our family,” said Mack. “My dad then took me out to the golf course when I was really young, and I’ve always loved getting out there.”
Mack also played tennis growing up, but always loved golf a little more. Her game got serious around 12 or 13 years old as she started traveling to compete in both national and international tournaments. She won the German Ladies National Championship in 2016 before moving to the United States to attend the University of Las Vegas, Nevada.
After two years on the West Coast, Mack transferred to the University of Alabama, where she played for three years. Her transition in golf from Europe to the United States was the push Mack said she needed to take her game to the next level.
“Americans love golf, and you can tell,” said Mack. “The golf courses are in really good shape and the greens are way faster. It’s much harder around the greens, and my short game wasn’t that good in the beginning. Coming over here, it really was that last bit that I needed to get better.”
During her time at the University of Alabama, Mack recorded two victories at the 2022 NCAA Franklin Regional and 2022 Liz Murphey Collegiate Classic. Her 2022 resume also includes four additional top-15 finishes.
“You always say you learn more from the tournaments that you don’t play well in,” said Mack. “I would say I learned a lot for my confidence and what I can do [at the NCAA Franklin Regional].
Her Epson Tour debut was considered a success, as she finished T16 in Ann Arbor, at 1-under par. Not only did Mack make the cut, which was her main goal for her debut, but she also shot even-par or better in all three rounds.
“It felt really good,” said Mack. “I was really nervous, way more nervous than I thought I would be before that first round.”
Part of Mack’s nerves were due to traveling and playing in the two-week stretch with no caddy or family to cheer her on. While she would usually travel with someone and hopes to get a caddy further into her career, Mack is comfortable flying solo for the time being.
“I think it’s more comfortable right now not to have a caddy,” said Mack. “That’s what I’m used to, that’s all I’ve done all my life.”
Mack has not set any specific goals for the rest of the season but has big dreams for her career. She hopes to someday tee it up for Germany in the Olympics.
“That would be really awesome to represent my country and be proud of it,” said Mack.
As for right now, Mack is taking it one day at a time, one shot at a time.
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