SPRINGFIELD – Neal Shipley wants to be more than a novelty act. If so, the “Everyman” golfer with the long hair and love for Waffle House has some work to do. And he knows it.
“It’s two different things. There’s the persona – and that’s who I am, truly – and there’s me and golf, and that’s what drives the boat,” Shipley said June 8 after completing a 36-hole U.S. Open qualifier at Springfield Country Club in Springfield, Ohio.
“I know my game is good enough to compete on the PGA Tour,” he continued. “It’s just getting it back to a good spot. We’re either there or really close.”
It looked that way at the qualifier. Shipley, a 2024 Ohio State graduate who plays on the PGA Tour after spending last year on the Korn Ferry Tour, was co-medalist after completing back-to-back 18-hole rounds at 8 under. The field of 74 players vied for five spots, plus two alternates. The finish earned the 25-year-old a trip to Shinnecock Hills in Southampton, New York, for the June 18-21 U.S. Open.
Shipley’s former Ohio State roommate came close to joining him on Long Island. Max Moldovan came up just short in his bid to qualify for the Open for the fifth consecutive time out of Springfield. He tied for sixth, then finished as second alternate to Brandt Snedeker on the seventh hole of a playoff. Moldovan has his fingers crossed that he makes it to Shinnecock Hills, but likely needs Springfield third-place qualifier Billy Horschel to win the Canadian Open this week, which would move Moldovan up to first alternate. The first alternate out of Springfield typically advances.
DeSales’ graduate Vaughn Harber qualifies for U.S. Open
Ohio State sophomore Vaughn Harber needs no such luck. The DeSales graduate qualified out of the Lakes Golf and Country Club in Westerville after carding three birdies and an eagle over his final four holes to tie for second and earn a trip to Shinnecock Hills.
Shipley understands the excitement Harber must be feeling. The Pittsburgh native burst onto the golf scene by placing second at the 2023 U.S. Amateur, then finished as low amateur at both the 2024 Masters, where he played the final round with Tiger Woods, and the 2024 U.S. Open.
During that hot streak, Shipley became famous in golf circles for his long hair, “Family Guy” physique and late-night trips to Waffle House. He also appeared in the Netflix documentary “Full Swing.” He turned pro in the summer of 2024 and moved up to the PGA Tour after winning two Korn Ferry events in 2025.
“A lot came to me fast, and I learned a lot, but also learned I’m the type of guy who plays well under the gun and that’s something you can’t teach,” he said. ”I have that inside me and I proved that again today.”
Now he needs to prove it among the best players in the world, or risk being a journeyman golfer who made the most of his 15 minutes of fame – like a less successful version of Rickie Fowler, who turned his brand into commercial earnings despite having never won a major.
“I’m in a unique position with a lot of the media attention I got in my career and how I capitalized on that,” Shipley said. “My team made it easy for me to play golf and not get caught up in all that.”
Where is his game at the moment?
“I didn’t come out of the winter in good form, and was trying to adjust to life on tour without also playing my best golf,” he said. “I made a coaching change, which has helped a lot.”
Proximity more important than putting on PGA Tour
Next up, leaning into the reality that on tour, proximity is even more important than putting.
The PGA Tour is not a putting contest,” he said. “You’ve got to hit your 8 and 9 iron close and get it done that way.”
Other things Shipley has learned in his first year on tour?
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“Compared to the Korn Ferry Tour, you really get rewarded out here, but you also get what you deserve,” he said. “When you play OK and make a couple mistakes, you’re on the cut line. If you play good, you’re three or four shots ahead of the cut line and in a good spot for the weekend. On the Korn Ferry Tour, you get away with a lot more mistakes.”
Among Shipley’s strengths, he does not lack confidence, which allows him to rise to the occasion when stakes are the highest.
“A lot of guys start to grip the club a little tighter, but [when the most pressure is on] I seem to perform,” he said. “I’ve won at every level, from juniors to amateur. Now this is the part of my journey where I’m playing against the best players in the world. And it’s hard to win.”
Qualifying for the U.S. Open is a step in the right direction. Now he needs to win a tournament, or watch his star dim.
The long hair is a fun topic of conversation. Now his game needs to grow, too.
Sports columnist Rob Oller can be reached at roller@dispatch.com and on X.com at @rollerCD.
This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Ohio State grad Neal Shipley wants to be more than a golfing sideshow
Reporting by Rob Oller, Columbus Dispatch / The Columbus Dispatch
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Rob Oller, Columbus Dispatch | USA TODAY Network
