Neal Shipley and Blades Brown Receive Special Invitation to the Charles Schwab Challenge
Colonial Country Club, home of the Charles Schwab Challenge, maintains a unique tradition in its annual PGA Tour tournament: the selection of champions. Former winners select two players to receive a special invitation to the event.
This week’s picks are Neal Shipley and Blades Brown.
Brown, 17, turned professional this winter. Shipley, for his part, captivated golf fans in 2024 by being the highest-ranked amateur in both the Masters and the US Open before turning professional.
“It’s been incredible to know that I can compete on the biggest stages, so when I come here, I know I can beat most of the guys. I think that’s something that a lot of young professionals don’t get from college, so I’m very grateful for those two experiences,” Shipley commented.
Neal Shipley
After his appearance in the Netflix documentary series “Full Swing”, Shipley is pursuing his professional dreams and appreciates the opportunity in Fort Worth, Texas.
“I am truly honored that some of my peers have chosen me for this exemption and I am very excited to have a great week. The golf course is in phenomenal shape, and the members here at Colonial have done an incredible job of welcoming us to their course,” he added.
Neal Shipley
This will be Shipley’s second PGA Tour start this season, as he looks to earn his card via the Korn Ferry Tour. In March, he made the cut and tied for 47th at the Valspar Championship.
Since then, Shipley earned his first professional title by winning a playoff at the Korn Ferry Tour’s LECOM Suncoast Classic in April.
“A lot of our focus this year is on the Korn Ferry Tour, looking to be in one of those top 20 spots (that automatically qualify for the PGA Tour). There have been great opportunities, and I can play tour events. I want to be here. This is where I want to play,” he said.
Neal Shipley
Shipley was in the Dallas-Fort Worth area earlier this month to participate in the Korn Ferry Tour event, and it’s safe to say he’s happy to be back.
“I love being in Texas. If I didn’t live in Florida, I would probably live here. Yeah, I’m very excited. The barbecue food here is just elite, so you can’t beat it,” he concluded.
Neal Shipley
