Fuzzy Zoeller, a two-time main champion and one in every of golf’s most gregarious characters whose profession was tainted by a racially insensitive joke about Tiger Woods, has died, in keeping with a longtime colleague. He was 74.
A reason for loss of life was not instantly obtainable. Brian Naugle, the match director of the Insperity Invitational in Houston, stated Zoeller’s daughter known as him Thursday with the information.
Zoeller was the final participant to win the Masters on his first try, a three-man playoff in 1979. He famously waved a white towel at Winged Foot in 1984 when he thought Greg Norman had beat him, solely to defeat Norman in an 18-hole playoff the subsequent day.
However it was the 1997 Masters that modified his reputation.
Woods was on his technique to a watershed second in golf with probably the most dominant victory in Augusta Nationwide historical past. Zoeller had completed his spherical and had a drink in hand below the oak tree by the clubhouse when he was stopped by CNN and requested for his ideas on the 21-year-old Woods on his technique to probably the most dominant win ever at Augusta Nationwide.
“That little boy is driving effectively and he is placing effectively. He is doing all the pieces it takes to win. So, you understand what you guys do when he will get in right here? You pat him on the again and say congratulations and revel in it and inform him not serve fried rooster subsequent 12 months. Acquired it?” Zoeller stated.
He smiled and snapped his fingers, and as he was strolling away he turned and stated, “Or collard greens or regardless of the hell they serve.”
That second haunted him the remainder of his profession.
Zoeller apologized. Woods was touring and it took two weeks for him to remark because the controversy festered. Zoeller later stated he acquired loss of life threats for years after that second.
Writing for Golf Digest in 2008, he stated it was “the worst factor I’ve gone by way of in my total life.”
“If individuals wished me to really feel the identical harm I projected on others, I am right here to inform you they acquired their approach,” Zoeller wrote. “I’ve cried many instances. I’ve apologized numerous instances for phrases stated in jest that simply aren’t a mirrored image of who I’m. I’ve a whole bunch of buddies, together with individuals of shade, who will attest to that.
“Nonetheless, I’ve come to phrases with the truth that this incident won’t ever, ever go away.”
It marred a profession full of two well-known main titles, eight different PGA Tour titles and a Senior PGA Championship amongst his two PGA Tour Champions titles.
Greater than profitable was how he went about it. Zoeller performed quick and nonetheless had an easygoing nature to the best way he method the sport, typically whistling between photographs.
He made his Masters debut in 1979 and acquired right into a three-way playoff when Ed Sneed bogeyed the final three holes. Zoeller defeated Sneed and Tom Watson with a birdie on the second playoff gap, flinging his putter excessive within the air.
“I’ve by no means been to heaven, and pondering again on my life, I in all probability will not get an opportunity to go,” Zoeller as soon as stated. “I suppose profitable the Masters is as shut as I’ll get.”
Zoeller was locked in a duel with Norman at Winged Foot within the 1984, taking part in within the group behind and watching Norman make putt after putt. So when he noticed Norman make a 40-footer on the 18th, he assumed it was for birdie and started waving a white towel in a second of sportsmanship.
Solely later did he notice it was for par, and Zoeller made par to drive a playoff. Zoeller beat him by eight photographs within the 18-hole playoff (67-75). Zoeller’s lone remorse was giving the towel to a child after he completed in regulation.
“When you occur to see a grungy white towel hanging round, get it for me, will you?” he as soon as stated.
He was born Frank City Zoeller Jr. in New Albany, Indiana. Zoeller stated his father was recognized solely as “Fuzzy” and he was given the identical title. He performed at a junior school in Florida earlier than becoming a member of the highly effective Houston golf group after which going professional.
His spouse, Diane, died in 2021. Zoeller has three kids, together with daughter Gretchen, with whom he used to play within the PNC Championship. Zoeller was awarded the Bob Jones Award by the USGA in 1985, the group’s highest honor given for distinguished sportsmanship.