Ohio State Buckeyes' Neal Shipley Out Duels Tiger Woods In Final Round of Masters

Ohio State. Buckeyes golf star Neal Shipley played the final round at Augusta on Sunday alongside five-time Masters winner and 15-time major champion Tiger Woods.
Apr 14, 2024; Augusta, Georgia, USA; Neal Shipley talks with Tiger Woods as they walk down No. 11
Apr 14, 2024; Augusta, Georgia, USA; Neal Shipley talks with Tiger Woods as they walk down No. 11 / Adam Cairns, Adam Cairns / USA TODAY

Ohio State Buckeyes golfer Neal Shipley didn't win the 88th Masters this week, but he'll be inside Butler Cabin for the jacket presentation. That's because he won the Augusta National Silver Cup, awarded to the low amateur at the Masters since 1952.

Shipley carded a 73 on Sunday, playing in better conditions than his Friday round of 76 and Saturday round of 80. And the grad student has a memorable Sunday for reasons far more memorable for him than his score. Shipley's playing partner was Tiger Woods, who shot a 77 alongside Shipley in the final round.

Apr 14, 2024; Augusta, Georgia, USA; Neal Shipley talks with Tiger Woods as they walk down No. 11
Apr 14, 2024; Augusta, Georgia, USA; Neal Shipley talks with Tiger Woods as they walk down No. 11 / Adam Cairns, Adam Cairns / USA TODAY

“Playing with Tiger, Sunday at the Masters, the whole week, I think I have to win one of these things to kind of top this week,” Shipley said after his final round.

“He's such a normal guy and really cool,” Shipley said of Woods. “He was great to me all day. Couldn't be more appreciative of him just being awesome today, and it was just really cool to be around him and just the attention he gets and the roars. The crowds were phenomenal.”

Shipley finished the week tied for 53rd with a 12-over 300, beating Woods not just for Sunday's score, but for the tournament. Woods shot a 16-over 304 for the week, finishing alone in 60th place.

“I was just kind of doing my thing and not doing anything special, that was good enough to make the cut and compete out here and beat a lot of players that are on the PGA TOUR,” Shipley said.

If there's one thing Shipley can tell his grandkids about his first Masters, it's that he beat 15-time major winner and 5-time Masters champion Tiger Woods.