Masters amateur Neal Shipley says playing with Tiger Woods was ‘the frickin’ coolest day of my life’

Neal Shipley has discussed his experience playing alongside Tiger Woods – his childhood hero – at the 2024 Masters tournament on Sunday, describing it as ‘the coolest day of my life.’

When the 22-year-old amateur golfer appeared on ESPN’s The Pat McAfee Show on Tuesday, he was asked whether he will now forever remember working with Woods. – a 15-major champion.

“Oh yeah, I knew this was the coolest day of my life. I can’t compete with that,” said Shipley, who quit, claiming that Woods passed him a note at some point during play on Sunday. “I mean, Tiger is so cool and that’s probably once in a lifetime for me. I mean, he doesn’t play much anymore and who knows when I’ll be in a situation to play with him again… so, I mean, gosh, it was incredible.

“I mean, I really cut it down to 12 tee. He received a standing ovation and walked upstairs. 18. I let him go in front of me and I mean, that was incredible, to see that in real life and be on the ropes of that. It was so cool.’

When asked if he was nervous about playing in front of Woods and other visitors at America’s most prestigious golf course, Shipley said he was just focused on his game and that Woods even complimented him at one point.

Shipley and Woods were paired up in the final round of the tournament on Sunday in Augusta

“I mean, I was pretty cooped up,” he told McAfee. “At the end of the day, it’s just golf.

“But I mean, the coolest thing was I think I was really hoping to ride 2 and Tiger said, ‘Hey, good ride,’ and I was like, ‘Oh my god, that was a great stick.’

Shipley said the moment he learned he was going to play with Woods was when he was feeling pretty disappointed on the practice range at Augusta National after a third-round 80 in the Masters.

The 22-year-old won the Silver Cup as the only amateur golfer to make the cut this year

The amateur’s caddy and good friend, Carter Pitcairn, stopped by Saturday evening and excitedly asked him, “Hey, guess who we’re going to be paired with tomorrow?” The Ohio State player knew immediately and replied, “No way. Is it Tiger?’

“I got pretty excited,” Shipley said, “and then the emotions turned.”

Shipley played his final round with Woods and shot a 1-over 73 on Sunday to win the Silver Cup. It was the perfect ending to what he called a “dream week.”

“I think I have to win one of these things to kind of be on top this week,” Shipley, who finished in 53rd place with 12 over 300, said Sunday as he pointed to a green jacket.