The Colonial Country Club has a special tradition with regard to the annual PGA Tour Stop, which is recently known as the Charles Schwab Challenge.
It is called the Champions selection. Past tournament champions select two players each year for special invitations to the field. This week, the champions are Neil Shipley and Blade Brown.
Brown is 17 years old and before opening Protey in 2024, Shipley, a good-character, won the imagination of golf fans in 2024 by finishing as a low amateur amateur in both the Masters and the US.
“I know that we can compete at these biggest stages, so when we come out, I know that we can beat most people here,” Shipley told reporters Tuesday. “I think that’s because a lot of young professionals don’t graduate from college, so I’m really grateful for these two experiences.”
After being featured on Netflix Docuseries’ “Full Swing,” Shipley is challenging his professional dreams and is grateful for the opportunity in Fort Worth, Texas.
“I’m really honored that some of my peers have given me that exemption and have chosen to be really excited to have a great week,” he said. “The golf course is incredible form and our membership here at Colonial did an incredible job of welcoming us to their course.”
Shipley is only earning the second PGA Tour start of the season as he works to win cards through the Corn Ferry Tour. He cut to 47th place at the Valspar Championship in March and was tied up.
Since then Shipley has won his first professional title by winning the playoffs at Lecom Suncoast Classic on the Corn Ferry Tour in April.
“Many of our focus this year is on the Corn Ferry Tour and we’ll be entering one of these top 20 spots (which automatically qualify for the PGA Tour),” he said. “…There’s a great opportunity and you can play tour events. I want to be here. This is where I want to play.”
Shipley was in the Dallas-Fort Worth area to play at the Corn Ferry Tour event earlier this month. It’s safe to say he’s happy he’s back.
“I love being in Texas, and if I didn’t live in Florida, I would probably live here,” Shipley said. “Yeah, I’m so excited. The barbecue food here is pretty elite so I can’t beat it.”