Fuzzy Zoeller, a renowned golf champion known for his charisma, has passed away, according to a close colleague. He was 74 years old.
The cause of death has not been immediately released. Brian Naugle, director of the Insperity Invitational tournament in Houston, mentioned that Zoeller’s daughter informed him of the news on Thursday.
Zoeller was the last player to win the Masters on his first attempt, achieving victory in a playoff in 1979. He is also remembered for his gesture at Winged Foot in 1984, when he waved a white towel believing that Greg Norman had overtaken him, although he later defeated Norman in a playoff the next day.
However, a moment at the 1997 Masters marked a turning point in his career.
Tiger Woods was on the verge of achieving a historic victory in golf, with unprecedented dominance at Augusta National. Zoeller, after finishing his round, was interviewed by a media outlet and was asked his opinion on Woods, 21 years old, who was heading towards a dominant victory at Augusta National.
“That kid is playing well and putting well. He’s doing everything it takes to win. So, you know what you guys do when he gets here? You pat him on the back and tell him congratulations and enjoy it, and don’t serve fried chicken next year. Got it?” said Zoeller.
She accompanied her words with a smile and a snap of her fingers, and as she walked away, she added: “Or kale or whatever they serve.”
That comment haunted him for the rest of his career.
Zoeller apologized. Woods, who was traveling, took two weeks to respond as the controversy intensified. Zoeller revealed that he received death threats for years after that incident.
In a 2008 article, Zoeller described that moment as “the worst thing I’ve ever experienced in my entire life”.
“If people wanted me to feel the same pain I projected onto others, I’m here to tell them they succeeded,” Zoeller wrote. “I’ve cried many times. I’ve apologized countless times for words said in jest that simply don’t reflect who I am. I have hundreds of friends, including people of color, who can attest to that.
Despite this, I have accepted the fact that this incident will never, ever, disappear.”
This episode tarnished a career full of achievements, including two Grand Slam titles, eight PGA Tour victories, and a PGA Senior Championship among his two PGA Tour Champions titles.
Only then did he realize it was for par, and Zoeller made par to force a tiebreaker. Zoeller beat Norman by eight strokes in the 18-hole playoff (67-75). Zoeller’s only regret was giving his towel to a child after finishing the round.
“If you see a dirty white towel around there, could you get it for me?” he once said. Born Frank Urban Zoeller Jr. in New Albany, Indiana, his father, known as “Fuzzy”, passed that nickname on to him. Before turning professional, he played at a community college in Florida and then joined the Houston golf team. His wife, Diane, passed away in 2021. Zoeller had three children, including his daughter Gretchen, with whom he used to play in the PNC Championship. In 1985, Zoeller was awarded the Bob Jones Award by the USGA, the organization’s highest honor for outstanding sportsmanship.
