Neal Shipley's unique marker debuts at Valspar Championship

Neal Shipley is set to make his debut at the Valspar Championship with a unique ball marker called "Body by Waffle House." This will be his first start on the PGA TOUR as a star from the "Full Swing" series. The 24-year-old golfer from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, earned a conditional membership for the Korn Ferry Tour in 2025. He gained this status by collecting enough FedExCup points to finish in the top 200 during the final standings for the 2024 season. Shipley played three collegiate seasons at James Madison and two at Ohio State before going pro. In his professional debut season in 2024, Shipley had some success. He made six cuts in eight TOUR starts, including a notable sixth-place finish at the ISCO tournament. Although he did not secure a full TOUR card by reaching the top 125 in points, he achieved conditional status for the Korn Ferry Tour. Shipley faced challenges after he did not advance from the Second Stage of Q-School in December. However, his Korn Ferry Tour membership allows him to compete in the first four events of the season. Additionally, he has earned full exemption on the 2025 PGA TOUR Americas after finishing in the top 20 in the Fortinet Cup standings last summer.