Masters amateur Neal Shipley plays dream final round with Tiger Woods

by · Mail Online

Amateur golfer Neal Shipley has been paired with Tiger Woods for the final day of The Masters - capping off an incredible week for the 22-year-old in which he also claimed low amateur honors. 

Shipley, 22, is a graduate student at Ohio State and stars for the Buckeyes' golf team, while he previously played for James Madison University as well.

And the aspiring pro got the thrill of a lifetime on Sunday as he was paired with Woods, bringing along his high school friend, Carter Pitcairn, as his caddie.

Woods and Shipley, the 2023 US Amateur runner-up, could be seen chatting as they walked across the course on Sunday.

'When you drive down Magnolia Lane, it really doesn't even feel real,' Shipley told amateurgolf.com in March. 'It is crazy to think that what I did at the U.S. Amateur led me to that. The biggest thing is thinking through the golf course before the week because there are so many things to learn.'

Neal Shipley, 22, was paired with Tiger Woods for the final day of The Masters on Sunday
Shipley is a graduate student at Ohio State and previously played at James Madison as well
Shipley plays his shot from the fourth tee during the third round of the 2024 Masters

Shipley, a Pittsburgh area native, completed his master's degree in data analytics, and his journey to Augusta has been a long time in the making.

According to The Athletic, while in elementary school, Shipley told 'anyone' in his hometown of Mt. Lebanon that he would become a pro golfer.

And years later, he reportedly has around 15 people watching him this weekend in Georgia. 

Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro took to X to congratulate the young golfer on Sunday.

'Congratulations to Western Pennsylvania's own Neal Shipley for winning low amateur in his Master's debut,' he wrote.

'Pretty cool that a Central Catholic grad is paired up with Tiger on Masters Sunday. Can't wait to watch you at the Masters today and to see what's next for you in your career. Good luck!

Shipley, a grad student at Ohio State, is seen at the NCAA Championships in 2023
Shipley was congratulated on his Masters performance by Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro

Shipley entered Sunday 11-over par, and was the only amateur to make the cut this year.

While it's Shipley's first Masters appearance, Woods is playing his 100th round at Augusta on Sunday.

The younger of the two hit a gorgeous chip on the second hole to set himself up for an easy tap-in birdie.

Shipley became the first Ohio State Buckeye since Jack Nicklaus to win low amateur.