An A-Z visitors guide to Milwaukee Wisconsin. Sponsored by Key Magazine Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Issue link: https://read.dmtmag.com/i/37495
KEY: Who are some of the guys on tour you chum around with? Are you friends with PGA pros fromWisconsin like Steve Stricker, Jerry Kelly, J.P. Hayes, or Skip Kendall? Wilson: I hang outmostwith guyswho are in a similar life situation asmyself,meaning they are marriedwith small children. So I hang outwith Tag Ridings, Ben Crane, Zach Johnson and Jonathan Byrd. Steve, JP, Jerry and Skip have all been like big brothers. KEY: Of your four wins on tour, which gives you the greatest satisfaction? Wilson: Probably the first one since it really put me on themap and drovemy own thinking of myself as a playerwho barely keeps his card on tour every year to onewho can contend on any givenweek. That gaveme a lot of confidence in myself. KEY: Are your wife and two kids golfers? Do they travel with you? Wilson:Mywife has the prettiest golf swing you'll ever see but notmuch power. She shoots around 100 but if a household chore is put on the line as the bet, then shewill really bring her game.My boys are only 1- and 3-years-old so they are just getting started. They travelwithme 90%of the time now, but thatwill changewhen the oldest gets into kindergarten in a couple years. KEY: Is your caddie fromWisconsin? Wilson: Chris Jones is fromNewJersey but moved to Reno,NV in his late teens to chase his dreamof snowboarding.He needed something to do in the summers so he discovered golf.He loved it somuch hewanted to become a caddie and got his first chancewith Dicky Pride in 2002. I hired himin 2006 andwe have been together ever since. KEY: What's your ultimate goal in golf? Wilson: I truly believe that God has givenmemy talent and it ismy responsibility to use that talent to influence others and ultimately, Iwant to bring others to knowJesus Christ like I do. I hope to be known as a Christianwho played golf for a living. KEY:What other sports or pastimes or hobbies do you like? Wilson: I loved basketball growing up. Iwas an enormousMilwaukee Bucks fanwhen Iwas in elementary school. I lived and died by the Bucks. I played all theway throughmy sophomore year on theWisconsin LutheranHigh School teambut stopped as I sawmy skills being bypassed by others.Most ofmy free time nowis spentwatch ingmy two boys growup and play hard. Northwestern Mutual now sponsors Mark Wilson KEY: Having won the Ben Hogan Award, any advice for student golfers? And why did you attend the University of North Carolina? Wilson: There are sacrifices that go alongwith succeeding both in the classroomand in sports. There is time to have fun and be a teenager but always keep your eye on the ultimate prize.As for college, I had alwayswanted to go south to developmy gamewhich I still feel is important at the collegiate level. UNC had great academics and a top 20 golf program. Itwas a no-brainer. KEY: How and why did you get involved in Milwaukee-basedMidwest Athletes Against Childhood Cancer (MACC)? Wilson:Mymanager at the time, Ed Erkmanis, came upwith the idea of "Making aMark Fore MACC"where I donate a certain amount of earnings for each tournament I play in. I loved the idea since I always dreamed of sinking a 3- point shot as aMilwaukee Buck and having $50 donated to theMACC FUND. Once I stopped growing at 5'8" and that dreamdied, I'mglad Ed thought of amore realisticway forme to benefit theMACC FUND. KEY: Why do you currently reside in Elmhurst, Ill. and not someplace warm? Wilson:We are traveling 30weeks a year so when I amnot playing a tournament Imuch prefer being close to family and friends. Besides, we usually leave in early January every year to play a lot of tournaments,missingmost of the blizzards in theMidwest. Elmhurst is situated in between both Chicago airports and is a great place to raise a family.Mywife,Amy, grewup in the Chicagoland area. 51