Q. So a great round today.
POLLY MACK: Thank you.
Q. Four birdies to kind of start the round off. How did it feel and what kind of momentum did that give you throughout the rest of the 18?
POLLY MACK: It felt good, especially I was surprised putting went that well. I worked hard to get my mental situation going on putting and I'm really, really happy that that worked, that I found something for myself again.
Yeah, seeing some putts going in, especially in the beginning of the round, helped my confidence, yeah.
Q. And then 6-under on the third round. Obviously it's a stressful two weeks, but playing so well today kind of putting you up in that T5 area right now. Obviously it's not a regular tournament where it's one specific goal in sight, but working towards next week for the LPGA Tour card. How does it feel to go into tomorrow and be pretty much safe from the cut line for now?
POLLY MACK: It feels good. My goal was just to keep it simple these days. It's eight total rounds. It's a lot of golf left. Yeah, I just tried to keep it easy, just make simple pars, and the birdies will happen here and there.
There have been some more birdies today luckily, so I feel good about it. I feel good about the rest of the week, but I'm pretty sure there is a lot of golf left. Yeah, just keep it simple. (Laughter.)
Q. And then player bio questions. University of Alabama?
POLLY MACK: Uh-huh.
Q. What years did you play again?
POLLY MACK: Third, fourth and fifth for me, so I graduated this year, which is 2022 and I think I came in '19.
Q. Perfect. Then do you know your career-best finish or you can just tell me, if not, what you're most proud of so far in your career?
POLLY MACK: I'm not 100% sure about my career-best, 6- or 7-under. I think was a 6-under couple times. (Laughter.)
Best moment for myself, probably regionals this year because I won regionals this year. It was just a really good -- I mean, it was obviously not an individual really counting, but I felt good about making something happen for the team, and, yeah, being part of going to Nationals after that.
In general just a great experience in Alabama. Couldn't be happier with my decision to go there after UNLV. It was just really, really great.
Q. And do you know your career-best round?
POLLY MACK: Career-best in total?
Q. Just for like 18.
POLLY MACK: In a tournament? As an amateur too?
Q. Yeah.
POLLY MACK: Okay, 8-under. I think it was 64, yeah.
Q. And then why did you decide to pursue professional golf as a career?
POLLY MACK: Partly because my coaches told me so. They always pushed me to my best. They always told me, Polly, you're good enough to really make something happen out there and you're good enough to play in the front field of the LPGA.
Partly because that was my decision -- well, I left UNLV with the knowledge I wanted to give myself the option to be pro after college, and that's what Alabama did for me. They really made me a great golfer. And just like with a good setup I thought, might as well give it a try and see how far I can get.
Then after that, I still have a degree and can go somewhere else, but I think it's really, really good experience, and I think you just see so much from the world and get to know so many people and get so many opportunities.
I don't regret it so far. (Laughter.)
Q. Great. And what are your hobbies off the golf course? How do you spend your time when you're not out here?
POLLY MACK: Yeah, I mean, obviously golf takes up a lot of time, but I love hiking with my family. We just were able to catch up on some hiking this past break.
Then, let's see, I loved skiing but I don't do it anymore because of golf. I don't want to hurt myself. I like trying new recipes, like cooking. Yeah, catch up with friends, try some new things. I don't know, pool sometimes, or, you know, just -- yeah, I don't know, anything. (Laughter.)
Q. Do you have a favorite recipe or comfort food?
POLLY MACK: I really like to cook kind of towards Thai food. What did I do, sweet potato curry, yeah, some types of different curry are pretty good. Chicken curry, red Thai curry, those are pretty fun to make.
Yeah. That's kind of what I was thinking about right now.
Q. And then last question: If you weren't a professional golfer what do you think you would be doing?
POLLY MACK: I could see myself working in my degree kind of, so it's hospitality management. I could see myself working in tourism, in a hotel, a resort kind of thing. So, yeah.
FastScripts Transcript by ASAP Sports