Fuzzy Zoeller, the professional golfer who won a Masters, a U.S. Open and millions of fans with his gregarious personality, has died. He was 74.
Zoeller’s death was announced Thursday by his daughter. His cause and location of death were not released.
Though he earned legions of fans, Zoeller’s career took a nosedive after he made a racist joke about Tiger Woods at the 1997 Masters. Woods was in the middle of a dominant victory when Zoeller commented on what he would serve at the following year’s champions dinner.
“That little boy is driving well and he’s putting well. He’s doing everything it takes to win. So, you know what you guys do when he gets in here? You pat him on the back and say congratulations and enjoy it and tell him to not serve fried chicken next year,” Zoeller said. “Or collard greens or whatever the hell they serve.”
The comments haunted Zoeller for the rest of his career and even out of the spotlight following his retirement. He apologized numerous times but never lived them down.
“If people wanted me to feel the same hurt I projected on others, I’m here to tell you they got their way,” Zoeller wrote in Golf Digest in 2008. “I’ve cried many times. I’ve apologized countless times for words said in jest that just aren’t a reflection of who I am.”
Born Frank Urban Zoeller Jr. in New Albany, Ind., Zoeller said his father was known only as “Fuzzy” and he was given the same name. He played golf at a junior college in Florida, then began his professional career in the 1970s. In 1979, he played in his first ever Masters — and won the whole thing.
Zoeller fell into a three-way playoff with Ed Sneed and Tom Watson after Sneed bogeyed the final three holes. He won the playoff on the second second-death hole and remains the most recent person to win the Masters in their first attempt.
Five years later, Zoeller was back in another major playoff at the 1984 U.S. Open. During the final regulation round, he saw Greg Norman make a 40-foot putt on the 18th hole and, assuming he’d lost, began waving a white towel in surrender.
It was only after finishing his round that Zoeller learned he’d actually tied Norman and would be coming back the next day for an 18-hole playoff. He won by eight strokes for his second major title.
Zoeller won eight smaller tournaments throughout his career as well. In 1985, he was awarded the Bob Jones Award by the USGA, the organization’s highest honor given for distinguished sportsmanship.
He also gained hordes of fans with his casual, quick play style and folksy manner.
“I’ve never been to heaven, and thinking back on my life, I probably won’t get a chance to go,” Zoeller once said. “I guess winning the Masters is as close as I’m going to get.”
Zoeller was preceded in death by his wife, Diane, who died in 2021. He’s survived by four children, including daughter Gretchen, with whom he used to play in the PNC Championship.
With News Wire Services
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