For Neal Shipley, the 2024 season has been one for the books. Although the young golf star could not win any PGA Tour events, the Pittsburgh native still proved that he was one of the best amateur players in America. After graduation from Ohio State University, the 23-year-old could not get the PGA Tour card through PGA Tour U. However, he was still eligible to play the two majors, the Masters and the U.S. Open. At both majors, Shipley turned out to be a better amateur than anyone else and earned the low-amateur honors.
At Augusta National, he met his idol, Tiger Woods, as the two were paired to play the Sunday round. Shipley regarded it as one of the coolest rounds of his life because even though he couldn’t contend for the green jacket, he at least played with his inspiration. Fast forward to December, the young star had played ten PGA Tour events, making the cut in eight, his best finish coming at the ISCO Championship with T6. But even with this record in the 2024 season, Shipley cannot make it to the PGA Tour in 2025.
Shipley was playing the second stage of the PGA Tour Q-School at the Kinderlou Forest Golf Course in Valdosta, Georgia. Only 16 and ties could advance to the final stage and contend for the 2025 PGA Tour Cards, but after posting 79-69-69-71 and finishing even par, Shipley failed to qualify for the second stage. Monday Q Info posted how Q-School is hard and even a talented golfer like Shipley could not qualify for the final stage.
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Q school is hard:
Neil Shipley made 8 of 10 cuts this year on the pga tour. Made cut at the Masters. T26 at the U.S. Open.
And he’s probably (outside shot he could sneak in) going to miss at 2nd stage. pic.twitter.com/VgO5HL6nDj
— Monday Q Info (@acaseofthegolf1) December 6, 2024
Undoubtedly, it was heartbreaking to see that Neal Shipley would have to play another year either on a sponsor exemption or on any other developmental tour before trying the Q-School again. Witnessing such a scene, the golf fans could not but feel for Shipley’s loss.
Golf world sympathizes with Neal Shipley
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The PGA Tour has tried to make it right. And the way they deemed it correct was by reducing the field in 2026, the cards for the Korn Ferry Tour, and Q-School, among many other changes to come. Yet, a talented young golfer like Neal Shipley, who was T53 at the Masters, T26 at the U.S. Open, and carded three other top 20 PGA Tour finishes, could not become a full-time member of the Tour. This led one user to say, “Another example of why the PGA Tour makes no sense; no reason Neil Shipley should have to be at Q school trying to get status.”
Another golf enthusiast was also frustrated with the PGA Tour’s system because, despite a better year, Shipley couldn’t get any benefit. They distastefully said, “Kinda makes no sense to make 8 of 10 cuts and have no status? Insane.” Although Shipley played 10 PGA Tour events, and all of them distributed the FedExCup points for the standings. But because he was not a member and playing on sponsor exemptions, Shipley got no points for his finishes. Maybe that’s where the PGA Tour needs a change, as this user said, “One thing the PGA Tour should do is give FedExCup points even if you’re not a member. Not sure where he would’ve ended up, but I would have to think he’d at least have conditional status. Shipley is 182nd in DataGolf’s rankings. He shouldn’t be at the second stage.”
So, what now? Shipley would probably go back to playing on developmental tours like the PGA Tour of Canada or any other and try to get more sponsor exemptions in 2025 too. But what if he joins the other side? LIV Golf is looking forward to adding new talents to its roster; even Monday Q Info hinted that the disruptive circuit may believe it is a good time to swoop in on Shipley, just like this fan commented, “Broken system. He should sign with LIV.” Amidst the disappointing result, one user tried to cheer him up by saying, “Spieth and Koepka both failed at the second stage too!” One is a 5-time major champion, and another has won three as both strive on LIV Golf and the PGA Tour, respectively.
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As Shipley has been in the game for long, the 23-year-old will hopefully go through this struggling time too, and in the 2025 season, he will get his PGA Tour card.
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Is the PGA Tour's system broken if talents like Neal Shipley can't earn a spot?
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Is the PGA Tour's system broken if talents like Neal Shipley can't earn a spot?
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