Fuzzy Zoeller, Two-time Major Winner Haunted By Racist Tiger Woods Joke, Dies Aged 74

Fuzzy Zoeller, nan two-time awesome champion whose genial nationalist persona was overshadowed by a racially insensitive joke astir Tiger Woods that came to specify nan second portion of his career, has died aged 74.

No origin of decease was instantly available. Brian Naugle, tourney head of nan Insperity Invitational successful Houston and a longtime colleague, said Zoeller’s girl notified him of nan decease connected Thursday.

Zoeller, calved Frank Urban Zoeller Jr successful New Albany, Indiana, was 1 of golf’s astir outgoing characters crossed a profession that delivered historical highs. He was nan first subordinate successful much than 4 decades to triumph nan Masters connected his debut, claiming nan 1979 greenish overgarment aft a three-man playoff. Five years later astatine nan US Open astatine Winged Foot, he outlasted Greg Norman successful an 18-hole Monday playoff aft famously waving a achromatic towel from nan fairway, believing Norman had conscionable holed a birdie putt to hit him. It turned retired to beryllium a par, and Zoeller won by 8 shots nan adjacent day.

US president Donald Trump, who often praised Zoeller, posted a tribute on Truth Social. “Very sad to perceive that nan highly respected and beloved Professional Golfer, Fuzzy Zoeller, has passed away,” he wrote, citing Zoeller’s awesome victories and calling him “a genuinely singular personification and player”.

But for each of Zoeller’s occurrence and easygoing charm, it was nan 1997 Masters that irrevocably altered his opinionated successful nan sport. As Woods marched toward a transformative, record-breaking victory astatine Augusta National, a relaxed Zoeller – portion successful manus – was stopped by a CNN unit adjacent nan clubhouse and asked for his thoughts. His reply, delivered pinch a grin and a threat of his fingers, sparked contiguous outrage.

“That small boy is driving good and he’s putting well,” Zoeller said, earlier adding that Woods should beryllium congratulated, past joking that officials should “tell him not [to] service fried chickenhearted adjacent twelvemonth … aliases collard greens aliases immoderate nan hellhole they serve.”

Zoeller apologized, but nan blowback only grew arsenic it took Woods 2 weeks to reside nan remarks while traveling. Zoeller later said he received decease threats for years. In Golf Digest successful 2008, he called it “the worst point I’ve gone done successful my full life,” adding: “If group wanted maine to consciousness nan aforesaid wounded I projected connected others, I’m present to show you they sewage their way.”

He said he had “cried galore times” and offered “countless” apologies for words he described arsenic a misguided effort astatine joke that did not bespeak who he was. “Still, I’ve travel to position pinch nan truth that this incident will never, ever spell away.”

Fuzzy Zoeller is congratulated by his caddie during nan 1979 Masters successful Augusta, Georgia. Photograph: Augusta National/Getty Images

Zoeller’s playing grounds extended good beyond his 2 awesome triumphs. He won 8 further PGA Tour titles, captured 2 PGA Tour Champions victories including a Senior PGA Championship, and represented nan United States successful 3 Ryder Cups. Known for playing quickly and whistling betwixt shots, he cultivated an image of a subordinate who some competed difficult and relished nan walk.

His 1979 Masters triumph remains 1 of Augusta’s astir enduring debuts. Arriving arsenic a first-time competitor, he reached a playoff aft Ed Sneed bogeyed nan last 3 holes. On nan 2nd other hole, Zoeller stiffed his attack to six feet and rolled successful nan winning birdie, tossing his putter skyward successful celebration. “I’ve ne'er been to heaven,” he erstwhile said. “I conjecture winning nan Masters is arsenic adjacent arsenic I’m going to get.”

At Winged Foot 5 years later, he believed Norman’s 40-plus-foot par putt connected nan 18th was a birdie that had beaten him and responded pinch a theatrical white-towel activity from nan fairway. After an charismatic told him nan score, Zoeller forced nan playoff and dominated, though he later joked that he regretted giving distant nan now-famous towel.

Zoeller played assemblage play first astatine Edison Junior College and later astatine nan University of Houston, past a powerhouse programme. He turned master successful 1973. His wife, Diane, died successful 2021. He is survived by 3 children, including his girl Gretchen, pinch whom he often played successful nan PNC Championship. He was awarded nan USGA’s Bob Jones Award for sportsmanship successful 1985.