Courtesy of Bethune-Cookman Athletic Communications


Former Bethune-Cookman University golfer Willie Mack III's PGA Tour debut has been moved up … to this weekend.

The Flint, Mich., native will replace Kamaiu Johnson as the sponsor exemption at the Farmers Insurance Open after Johnson tested positive for COVID-19. The tournament begins Thursday at Torrey Pines in San Diego, Calif.

This comes one week after Mack was named by Tiger Woods as the recipient of the Charlie Sifford Memorial Exemption into the 2021 Genesis Invitational field February 15-21.

"This is a bittersweet moment. Kamaiu and I are very close friends and he has worked so hard to have this opportunity," Mack said in a PGA Tour release. "There is no doubt that Kamaiu will get his chance, and when he does, he is going to do big things.

"To get two exemptions over the course of one week is incredible, with The Genesis Invitational awarding me the Charlie Sifford Memorial Exemption last week, and now to receive a spot in the Farmers Insurance Open from an organization that has already done so much for me," Mack added. "I will cherish this moment and forever be grateful for these incredible opportunities."

In March 2020, Mack became a Farmers Insurance® brand ambassador. He is a former Michigan Amateur champion and was the 2019 APGA Player of the Year, winning two of the seven events he entered. Mack currently leads the Florida Professional Golf Tour and will continue playing their events in addition to a full APGA Tour season in 2021

Johnson is also a Farmers Insurance® brand ambassador and has played alongside Mack on the APGA tour. This would have been his PGA Tour debut.

 "To say that I'm disappointed would be a massive understatement. I've dreamed of playing on the PGA Tour for a long, long time, but health and safety come first," Johnson said in a tour release. "I will be Willie Mack's biggest fan this week. He's a good friend and an incredibly talented player."

Mack won 11 titles during his playing career at Bethune-Cookman. In 2011, Mack became the first African American to win the Michigan Amateur Championship.

The tournament will air on the Golf Channel and CBS.