Ohio State golfer Neal Shipley made headlines as the low amateur at the 2024 Masters.
Shipley, who was also the only amateur to make the cut this year at Augusta, lived the dream in the final round last Sunday when he was paired up with the legendary Tiger Woods.
The Pittsburgh native also went viral for his awkward staring during Scottie Scheffler’s green jacket ceremony at Butler Cabin. In an appearance on the “Fore Play” podcast, Shipley explained just what he was looking at.
“I was so frickin’ nervous. I didn’t wanna speak out of turn or say something when I wasn’t supposed to,” he said. “So I was looking at a Teleprompter, waiting for when they were going to ask me the question and cue me in. And then I completely sidestepped Jim Nantz’s question, so it was pretty funny.”
This explanation is in line with the one the 23-year-old provided on “The Pat McAfee Show” earlier this week.
“I looked like a dumbass,” Shipley told McAfee. “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. I looked like a dumbass!”
Hey, it’s a small price to pay for having a weekend you’ll never forget at one of golf’s hallowed courses.
A PING All-America Honorable Mention in 2023 after transferring to OSU from James Madison, Shipley is part of the Buckeyes’ 2024 squad as a grad student in his final year of eligibility.