Next chapter coming: A Q&A with Cheboygan golf superstar PJ Maybank III

CHEBOYGAN – PJ Maybank III’s golf career has been excellent so far.

And now comes the next chapter for the 18-year-old Cheboygan golf star, who will begin his college career at the University of Oklahoma soon.

Before Maybank leaves for Norman, he'll participate in Cheboygan's Northern Michigan Open on Saturday and Sunday, Aug. 12-13.

As Maybank gets ready for OU, he recently chatted with the Daily Tribune during a Q&A interview that discussed his junior career, his favorite courses and players, family and much more.

Q: Explain to me how your love for golf started …

Maybank: I started playing tournament golf when I was eight years old. I’ve always had plastic clubs in my hand around the house when I could first start to walk and everything. I’ve been around golf my whole life. I think it kind of just ran in the family, my dad and grandpa. My mom doesn’t really play anymore, but they've all played a lot in their lifetimes, and I was kind of just born into it. I remember having plastic clubs and plastic balls to hit around the house, my dad built a net in the garage, and that’s kind of how it started.

MORE: Maybank takes first at U.S. Open local qualifier

MORE: Maybank dominates, wins Azalea Invitational by 11 strokes

REPRESENTING HIS COUNTRY: Maybank selected to play in U.S. Junior Presidents Cup

Q: What were those early days like working with your dad (Pete) on your golf game?

Maybank: It was great. He probably remembers a lot more than I do since I was so young, but it was great. I will cherish those moments forever.

Q: You really announced yourself to a lot of people by winning the 2018 Drive, Chip and Putt at Augusta National. What was it like to compete in that sort of setting? 

Maybank: It was good to get my name out there, and it was pretty cool to get to go to Augusta. I know it’s not like an actual golf tournament. I mean, it is a tournament, but you’re not playing 18 holes, but that was a pretty special experience.

Q: When you won your first tournament, what did that mean to you at the time? 

Maybank: It meant a lot. I think I was seven or eight years old – it was actually the first tournament I entered. I didn’t really know what to expect but that kind of sparked my love for tournament golf, the feeling of winning. As golfers, we lose a lot more than we win. If you win five percent of your tournaments, you’re a Hall of Famer.

Q: Of all the tournaments you’ve won, what was your favorite and why? 

Maybank: My favorite one, I would say was the Azalea (Invitational) this past spring. That was a pretty special event. I was kind of late getting into the field, and then I was winning the tournament by 11 (strokes) and breaking tournament records, the course record and everything, so it was pretty special.

Q: As great as your golf career has been, was there ever a stretch where you felt frustrated with your game?

Maybank: For sure. I feel like every athlete will go through stretches where they’re frustrated, where they feel like they’re super close to breaking through and it’s just not happening yet. To get out of those situations, you have to stay super patient and just keep putting in the time, keep working hard, and it’ll come. You just have to kind of let it happen and not force it, you’ve got to be patient.

Q: Who is your favorite professional golfer?

Maybank: I don’t know if I really have a favorite, but Xander Schauffle is one of my favorites. Tony Finau. They’re really good guys. Xander’s with Callaway (Golf). I met him once, briefly. Obviously, I still like Rickie (Fowler). Tommy Fleetwood.

Q: Who’s the most interesting pro golfer you’ve had the opportunity to meet?

Maybank: At the time I met Rickie (Fowler), I was only 12 or 13. He’s still one of my favorite players, and back then he was my favorite player of all time, and so that was super special to meet him. We got to hang out with him for a couple hours, which was pretty cool.

Q: Who are some golfers – locally, in tournaments you’ve played, etc. – you enjoy playing with the most? 

Maybank: In-state, people I play with, Harrison Chapman from Marshall. He plays golf at Wayne State now. I grew up with all these players throughout the country and we’re all heading off to college, or a lot of my friends are already in college. It’s crazy.

Q: What’s your favorite golf course to play? 

Maybank: I get this question asked so much and it’s so hard, because I’ve played on so many. My top three courses are Naples National (Florida), Jupiter Hills (Florida), and I do love The Heather at Boyne Highlands.

Q: If there’s a tournament out there you really want to win some day, what is it?

Maybank: I would love to obviously win any major championship or any PGA tour event. That would be a lifelong dream of mine. That’s why we all work so hard our whole life, is to win one of those.

Q: Who’s been your biggest inspiration when it comes to golf?  

Maybank: Probably my coach, Brian O’Neill. He’s like a second dad to me. I’ve basically lived with him the last few winters down in Orlando (Florida), and he’s been my coach since I was five years old.

Q: You’re very tight with your family. What has it meant having them by your side throughout your career?

Maybank: It’s awesome to have their support, and everyone in Cheboygan that’s supported me throughout my junior career. Somebody’s usually always at a tournament watching me, making sure everything’s good, which is always nice.

Q: For years, your sister Katie was your “good luck charm” at your events. A few years ago, she started playing, and now she's a star on the high school team. How impressed have you been with her rise as a golfer in such a short time span?

Maybank: She’s gotten pretty good for only three years, it’s pretty impressive. My parents always say she was more naturally gifted than I was, because – not that she doesn’t work hard or anything like that – but I had to work so hard growing up, and she kind of grabbed a club and started swinging, so it was pretty wild.

Q: I imagine you’ve played a few rounds with her. Has there been trash talk that’s gone on between you two on the course?  

Maybank: Definitely. We have banter. We argue and everything, just like everyone else does, but it’s fun.

Q: You, Katie and your dad have had chances to go out and play rounds when you’ve been home. How much do you cherish those moments on the course with family? 

Maybank: Those are some of my favorite rounds, especially now that I can come home and play with my family and friends, because I play so much stressful tournament golf where every shot means so much, and then I come home, relax, play golf with my family and friends, which is awesome.

Q: What’s the one thing you miss the most about Cheboygan? 

Maybank: The small-town feel, for sure. I travel to so many big cities, so it’s nice to come home to the small-town feel. I love coming back here. I always tell my dad that after I get on Tour, I want to have a house up here to come up to in the summertime. I can’t do the winters anymore, though. I can’t do it.

Q: You’re heading to Norman to play for the University of Oklahoma soon. What's the excitement level like, or are there some nerves?

Maybank: It’ll obviously be a pretty big change in my lifestyle, but it helps that I’ve already gotten to know the other guys on the team. I’ve visited there a few times, I love Coach (Ryan) Hybl, so I think it’ll be a pretty easy adjustment.

Q: What are your expectations as you enter the college phase of your career? 

Maybank: Before I graduate, I’d love to become the No. 1 amateur in the world. Obviously, those kinds of accolades are great, but I also want to win a team national title. That’s probably the No. 1 goal. That would be pretty awesome.

Q: Will we be seeing you playing on the PGA Tour someday?

Maybank: Yes. I’m hoping, for sure.

Q: Did you ever imagine all these years later that you’d be representing Cheboygan and Northern Michigan at the NCAA Division 1 level? 

Maybank: I guess I always believed it was possible. My dad has helped me out a lot mentally over the years. He wasn’t a professional golfer, but he was a professional athlete, so he knows what the feelings are. It’s pretty cool.

Q: I’m sure there’s many young golfers out there who hope to be like you one day. What would your advice be to them? 

Maybank: I’d say enjoy it. This game is hard – really hard – and you can start beating yourself up over it. I’d say enjoy it, get some friends you can go and play with all the time, and make it as fun as you can.

Contact sports editor Jared Greenleaf at jgreenleaf@gannett.com. Follow him on Twitter @sportsCDT  

This article originally appeared on Cheboygan Daily Tribune: Next chapter coming: A Q&A with Cheboygan golf superstar PJ Maybank III