Amateur golfer Neal Shipley describes his round with Tiger Woods at Augusta National as…..

Amateur golfer Neal Shipley describes his round with Tiger Woods at Augusta National as ‘the coolest day of my life.’ Shipley opens up about their Sunday game, expressing sheer excitement.”

Amateur golfer Neal Shipley, at just 22 years old, lived out a dream by teeing off alongside his childhood hero, Tiger Woods, at the 2024 Masters Tournament. Shipley, the sole amateur to make the cut at Augusta National this year, shared his exhilarating experience on The Pat McAfee Show on ESPN.

 

Reflecting on the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, Shipley described playing with Woods as “the frickin’ coolest day of my life.” Despite rumors suggesting Woods passed him a note on the green, Shipley debunked them, focusing instead on the sheer thrill of sharing the course with a golfing legend.

 

“Yeah, I knew that was the frickin’ coolest day of my life. Can’t beat that,” Shipley enthused. “I mean Tiger is so cool, and that’s probably once in a lifetime for me. I mean, he doesn’t play very much anymore, and who knows when I’ll be back in a situation to be playing with him… so, I mean, gosh, it was unbelievable.”

 

Shipley recounted the awe-inspiring moment when Woods received a standing ovation at the 12th tee and walked up the 18th hole, an experience he cherished from inside the ropes. Despite the pressure of performing on one of golf’s grandest stages, Shipley remained focused on his game, even receiving compliments from Woods himself.

 

“The coolest thing was, I think I had really hoped to drive on 2, and Tiger was like, ‘hey good drive,’ and I was like, ‘oh my gosh, that was freaking sick,'” Shipley shared, highlighting the surreal nature of the encounter.

 

The revelation that he would play with Woods came as a welcome surprise to Shipley, who had been feeling disheartened after a third-round 80. Learning the news from his caddie and friend, Carter Pitcairn, reignited Shipley’s spirits, turning his emotions around for the final round.

 

Playing alongside Woods on Sunday, Shipley delivered a commendable performance, shooting a 1-over 73 and clinching the Silver Cup. For Shipley, it marked the culmination of a “dream week,” capped off by the realization that he had just lived out an unforgettable moment in golfing history.

 

As Shipley reflected on his achievement, he humorously pointed to a green jacket, jokingly suggesting that he might need to win one to top the incredible experience of playing with Woods.

In the world of golf, dreams do come true, and for Neal Shipley, the 2024 Masters Tournament was a chapter he’ll forever cherish in his journey as a golfer.