Masters star denies secret Tiger Woods chat in horribly awkward press conference

Amateur golfer Neal Shipley’s debut at the 2024 Masters took a bizarre turn when he found himself in an awkward situation involving his playing partner, Tiger Woods. Shipley, thrilled to have made the cut and paired with the golf legend, endured a tough final round at Augusta National, finishing 12-over-par, four shots ahead of Woods but far from the leaders.

Despite their struggles on the course, Shipley and Woods attracted significant attention from crowds and cameras due to Woods’ iconic status. However, a peculiar moment occurred when Woods appeared to jot something down on his notepad and hand it to Shipley while walking to their tee shots on the 9th hole.

During Shipley’s post-round press conference, a reporter questioned him about the exchange with Woods. Shipley hesitated and seemed taken aback before responding, “He didn’t.” Pressed further by the reporter, Shipley repeated, “No, no. That didn’t happen.” Sensing the discomfort in the room, the moderator abruptly ended the press conference, thanking Shipley and wishing him luck.

The incident quickly went viral on social media, sparking speculation about what transpired between Shipley and Woods. Shipley, a Masters rookie, had fought hard to make it through the cut and complete the weekend at Augusta National, while Woods, despite a recent injury layoff, set a new record by making 24 consecutive cuts before struggling in the tough conditions and carding his worst-ever score at the Masters with an 82.

Reflecting on his performance, Woods admitted, “I wasn’t hitting it very good or putting well. I missed a lot of putts, easy, makable putts.” Despite their respective challenges, both Shipley and Woods had valuable experiences at the prestigious tournament.