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Neal Shipley of the United States looks on from the sixth tee during the first round of The American Express 2026 at the Pete Dye Stadium Course on January 22.
In a night that will be remembered in the early history of TGL, 25-year-old Neal Shipley etched his name into the record books by sinking the first hole-in-one in league play. The milestone came during his debut match for The Bay Golf Club against Los Angeles Golf Club at the league’s indoor SoFi Center.
The ace, which came on a short par-3 hole dubbed “Set In Stone,” was heavily celebrated by players and the crowd, underscoring the growing excitement around TGL as it enters its second season.
“It was pretty sick,” Shipley said. “I knew it was in a foot out. It was amazing and we went bananas.”
A Historic Shot in a Young League
TGL blends high-tech design with competitive golf matches played indoors in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida, a unique league launched in 2025 that attracts PGA Tour pros and rising talent alike. Despite the league’s relative youth, moments like Shipley’s on Monday signal that TGL is quickly building its own traditions and milestones.
Shipley’s historic ace came on the 110-yard par-3 No. 5, one of the shortest holes in league competition, but hitting it exactly right under the pressure of match play is anything but easy. His wedge shot carried to the back of the green before spinning back into the hole, immediately igniting wild celebration from teammates Luke Clanton (also making his TGL debut) and Min Woo Lee, who mobbed him as the crowd erupted.
“It’s different than any hole-in-one I’ve ever had before,” Shipley told ESPN after the shot. “This is amazing. So cool.” His reaction, which included throwing his club in the air and jumping multiple times, captured the moment’s energy and the league’s party-like vibe.
The leadup to that moment had its own fun twist. Clanton actually teased Shipley before his tee shot, saying, “Hey, it’s you. Give me a hole-in-one here. Please.” – a scene that became a talking point across broadcasts and social media once Shipley followed through in spectacular fashion.
Shipley’s Rise and Early Career
Shipley’s rise to this milestone has been building in recent years. A former standout at Ohio State University, he made headlines at the 2023 U.S. Amateur, where he came in second to Nick Dunlap. Shipley was then able to make the cut at both the Masters Tournament and U.S. Open, two of golf’s most storied majors, because of that finish.
After turning professional in 2024, Shipley found success on the Korn Ferry Tour in 2025, where he claimed multiple victories (LECOM Suncoast Classic and The Ascendant presented by Blue) and showcased a budding competitive edge that helped earn his PGA Tour card in August for the 2026 season.
His current season has had ups and downs, including just one made cut (WM Phoenix Open, where he placed T68th) in four PGA Tour events, but it’s still early in the season, and there’s plenty of golf left to play.
Shipley’s hole-in-one carried importance beyond just a stat line. In a team-based league like TGL, momentum swings take on extra weight, and an ace can shift both morale and momentum in a match. The Bay Golf Club already had an early lead when Shipley delivered his shot, but the historic moment amplified the energy in the arena and helped secure the team’s win, 11-5, along with his 16′ 2″ putt to end the match.
[I] promised some folks I’d take my shirt off if I made an ace, but I couldn’t up that promise,” Shipley said smiling. “I don’t think anyone wants to see that.”
Alyssa Polczynski Alyssa Polczynski is a multimedia journalist covering Major League Baseball for Heavy.com. She has experience as an editorial producer for MLB.com and contributed to the Society for American Baseball Research (SABR). More about Alyssa Polczynski
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