MASTERS TOURNAMENT

April 14, 2024

Scottie Scheffler

Neal Shipley

Butler Cabin Ceremony

JIM NANTZ: What a pleasure to be here with Augusta National chairman Fred Ridley, the 88th edition. Fred, another spectacular memory made here today.

CHAIRMAN FRED RIDLEY: This has been a fantastic tournament. Our patrons here at Augusta National and around the world were treated to quite a Sunday Masters finish.

JIM NANTZ: It was just amazing to see how things broke open on the second side for our champion. We're pleased to have with us last year's winner Jon Rahm to present the jacket and Scottie Scheffler along with the low amateur Neal Shipley.

Fred, you know how important the amateur participation is to the history of this tournament. You played in it three times yourself. What a performance by Neal this week, to be here in Butler Cabin, to be recognized.

CHAIRMAN FRED RIDLEY: It is, Jim. We've had five great amateurs who competed this week, and we congratulate Neal for carrying on this great tradition. Neal, you played very well the entire tournament and were paired today with one of the legends of the Masters Tiger Woods. What was it like today playing with Tiger?

NEAL SHIPLEY: Very special. It's a day I'm going to cherish forever. He was great to me out there, and to have all the patrons out there rooting both of us on was phenomenal.

JIM NANTZ: You have created such a stir going back to your play at the U.S. Amateur and a following. I know it's been told, but you graduated in just three years at James Madison University, you got a Master's Degree at Ohio State, and now you've got kind of a Master's Degree here. How much does this one mean to you, and where do you go from here with golf?

NEAL SHIPLEY: This week is going to be one of the best weeks of my life and something that I remember forever, especially being able to play with Tiger. Just the whole week in general, the members were phenomenal all week in hosting us. Thank you, Mr. Ridley, for having a great tournament.

JIM NANTZ: You continue to ace the test every single time. Well done.

Now, Fred, we have our champion for the second time in three years. Going to be kind of a neat exchange. We've seen these two go back and forth. What a performance by Scottie Scheffler.

CHAIRMAN FRED RIDLEY: It was unbelievable. Scottie, welcome back to Butler Cabin. Your play this week was simply spectacular. It seemed like every time someone made a run at you, you made another birdie. How did you stay so calm with all of that?

SCOTTIE SCHEFFLER: Yeah, I did my best. I did my best to stay calm out there. I tried to stay patient on the course and was able to make some key shots and key putts today to keep my round going.

Ludvig played great today. He made a good move at me there on the back nine and I was fortunate to hold him off towards the end.

JIM NANTZ: Scottie, just a couple questions for you. First off, the shots into 9 and 14, I thought the one at 9 changed the whole direction of the final round. Tell us about that one and what it meant to you at that moment.

SCOTTIE SCHEFFLER: I hadn't hit many good iron shots, which is a bit unusual for me. I had hit some good ones but they weren't really ending up where they were supposed to. I had that bogey there on 7 and a nice birdie putt on 8, and going into No. 9 it was nice to get that feeling of hitting a really well-struck shot and then it set me up to have a really nice back nine.

JIM NANTZ: Meredith. I don't know how you did it. This has been something the two of you have been talking about, the timing of everything for months. She's back home watching. Is there a message you'd like to pass along to her right now?

SCOTTIE SCHEFFLER: I'm coming home. I'll be home as quick as I can. Yeah, I love you and I'm coming home. That's all.

JIM NANTZ: What a time in your life. How do you put this into words? You win the Masters. You're about to be a father for the first time. It's pretty sweet.

SCOTTIE SCHEFFLER: You're about to make me cry here in Butler Cabin. It's a very special time for both of us. I can't put into words what it means to win this tournament again. I really can't put into words what it's going to be like to be a father for the first time. I'm looking forward to getting home and celebrating with Meredith. Its been a long week here without her, but I'm just looking forward to getting home.

JIM NANTZ: Chairman, it's time for the green jacket.

CHAIRMAN FRED RIDLEY: It is, Jim.

Jon, we'll never forget your victory last year when you won on the birthday of your fellow countryman Seve Ballesteros. We look forward to you competing and wearing the green jacket many more years here at Augusta. We'd be honored if you would now present the green jacket to Scottie.

Congratulations, Scottie.

SCOTTIE SCHEFFLER: Thank you, Mr. Chairman.