Neal Shipley Explains Awkward Interview At The Masters And Shuts Down Conspiracy Theory About Nonexistent Tiger Woods Note
Neal Shipley had quite the memorable experience at The Masters this year, making waves not only for his performance as the Low Amateur but also for an awkward interview that quickly became a meme sensation.
Hailing from Pittsburgh and with a collegiate golf background at James Madison University and Ohio State, Shipley was among the select few amateurs invited to Augusta National Golf Club for The Masters in 2024. While some may have felt the pressure, Shipley rose to the occasion, emerging as the only amateur to make the cut, ensuring his spot in the spotlight.
Despite ultimately tying for 53rd place with a score of +12 over 72 holes, Shipley’s performance was overshadowed by his final round pairing with the legendary Tiger Woods, where he impressively outscored the golf icon by four strokes.
Following his round, Shipley found himself in Butler Cabin alongside Scottie Scheffler and Jon Rahm for an interview with Jim Nantz before the trophy presentation. However, his nervous demeanor, evident through a series of uneasy glances, became the talk of the town and a subject of countless memes.
Days later, Shipley appeared on The Pat McAfee Show to address the viral interview, poking fun at himself while confessing to the nerves that got the best of him. He candidly admitted, “I was so nervous. The last thing I wanted to do was swear on national TV or say something stupid. I also didn’t want to speak out of turn, so I was trying to look at the teleprompter so I knew my cues. Dumba–.”
Shipley’s self-awareness extended to another awkward moment during a press conference when he was asked about a rumored note from Tiger Woods, which he swiftly debunked, stating, “It just didn’t happen.”
Despite the initial discomfort, Shipley embraced the humor surrounding his viral moment, even enjoying a few laughs at his own expense with family and friends as they indulged in the endless stream of memes circulating the internet.
