Tiger Woods’ amateur Masters partner gets into awkward exchange at press conference
- Neil Shipley was the only amateur to make the cut in this year’s tournament
- The 22-year-old tied for 53rd with 12 over 300 to win the Silver Cup on Sunday
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Footage of Neal Shipley – Tiger Woods’ amateur playing partner at the Masters – has gone viral after he awkwardly shut down a question about the golf legend handing him a slip during their final round at the August National.
Speaking to reporters after his final round at the major on Sunday, Shipley, who shot 1-over 73 to win the Silver Cup, kept it short when asked about one of the interactions with the five-time Masters champion.
‘Neal, I looked at a fairway… a fairway… he wrote something and gave you a note, what was that about?’ the reporter asked, referring to Woods.
Immediately, Shipley, who was the only amateur to make the cut in the tournament, clarified: “No, he didn’t.”
“I thought he wrote something and gave you a piece of paper?” then the reporter replied. ‘No, no, that didn’t happen…’ Shipley said once more before the press conference ended abruptly.
Neal Shipley was brief when asked about some interaction with Tiger Woods on Sunday
The 22-year-old amateur described Woods as a ‘normal guy’ who he thought was ‘really cool’
On Saturday, the amateur felt pretty down on the practice range after shooting a third-round 80. Then came the ultimate pick-me-up.
Shipley’s caddy and good friend, Carter Pitcairn, walked by Saturday night 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. It’s Tiger?!’
Talk about the luck of the draw. It was the perfect end to what Shipley called a ‘dream week’.
Shipley learned he was paired with Woods Saturday after shooting a third-round 80
“I think I have to win one of these things to be on top this week,” said the 22-year-old, runner-up at the 2023 US Amateur, pointing to a green jacket.
Shipley tied for 53rd at 12-over 300 at Augusta, but he walked away with some incredible memories.
‘When we were out there with Tiger, we chatted. We talked a lot about just golf,’ Shipley said. ‘He’s such a normal guy and really cool. He was great to me all day. Couldn’t be more thankful that he was just amazing today and it was just really cool to be around him and just the attention he gets and the roars.
‘The crowd was phenomenal’.