One clear upside of competing in the tech-driven indoor league TGL is the absence of pollen. Recently, the PGA Tour announced a new partnership with Zyrtec. They named Neal Shipley as a brand ambassador for the allergy relief sponsor. Ahead of the announcement, Shipley made headlines for a different reason, sinking the first-ever hole-in-one in TGL history.
In a recent interview, Shipley spoke with Heavy about Zyrtec, the historic hole-in-one, as well as his family’s support and what it’s really like to play at Waste Management Phoenix Open.
Neal Shipley Sinks TGL’s First Ever Hole-In-One
When asked about the TGL ace, Shipley reflected on how unique the experience was.
“That was a pretty obviously super unique experience, being the first one to do it,” Shipley said. “Having teammates that you’re celebrating with, normally, golf, it’s you and your caddy. You get the high-five and everyone around you on the tee is excited. But it’s a little bit different when it’s your teammate that hits that shot.”
He added that celebrating with teammates Luke Clanton and Min Woo Lee made the moment even more memorable.
“It was cool to have Luke and Min Woo to celebrate with. I think it’s a really cool environment in general, being able to play on ESPN in a stadium filled with people, but making an ace on national TV, being on ESPN Top 10 the next day, I think that all added to my great experience.”
Family Support on Tour
While discussing his allergies, Shipley also spoke about his family, noting that his brother and father deal with similar symptoms.
“My brother just graduated college and my dad is still working so they get out as much as possible,” he said. “It’s one of those things where every tournament isn’t really doable for them, but a lot of the cool stops they’ll do.”
He shared that they attended the Waste Management event and are planning to catch a few East Coast tournaments during the Florida swing.
“They came out for Waste Management, which is a really fun week, cool week,” he said. “It’s pretty brutal in Pittsburgh right now and I think they’re going to try and come down and enjoy some nice warm weather.”
Making the Cut at Waste Management
After making the cut, Shipley described the atmosphere at Waste Management as electric.
“It’s a really cool environment. It’s not something I want to do every week, but I think its really cool to do once a year or a couple times a year. It feels more like a major with that many people there and that much energy on the golf course. It’s a really well-run event.”
He acknowledged the tournament’s reputation for wild crowds but said his time there was overwhelmingly positive.
“I’ve heard a lot of rumors and stories about players having bad experiences there. That really wasn’t my experience at all. I think the crowds are great, overall, relatively respectful. Obviously you get chirped, but I think it’s all part of the fun. You have a little bit more energy and a little bit more chaos around that week.”
As seen in his role as a brand ambassador, his historic TGL hole-in-one, and making the cut at the Waste Management Phoenix Open, Neal Shipley continues to prove he’s ready for an exciting 2026 season.
PGA Star Talks Historic Hole-in-One, Waste Management, and More in Exclusive Interview