Fuzzy Zoeller

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1 PGA Tour wins
2 Champions Tour wins
3 Other wins
4 Results in major championships
5 References
6 External links

Frank Urban "Fuzzy" Zoeller, Jr. (born November 11, 1951) is a professional golfer. He was born in New Albany, Indiana. He attended the University of Houston and turned professional in 1973.

In 1979 Zoeller became one of only three golfers to have won The Masters in his first appearance in the event. The other two were the winners of the first two Masters, Horton Smith and Gene Sarazen. His other win in a major championship came at the 1984 U.S. Open at Winged Foot Golf Club, at which he notably waved a white towel from the 18th fairway in mock surrender after Greg Norman holed a long putt to tie him. Zoeller defeated Norman in an 18 hole playoff (67 to 75) the next day to win the Open, and Norman, amused by Zoeller's gesture, waved a white towel in "real" surrender to return the favor. Zoeller played on three Ryder Cup teams: 1979, 1983, and 1985.

Zoeller, always known for his brash locker room humor and appetite for partying, was voted the 1985 winner of the Bob Jones Award, the highest honor given by the United States Golf Association in recognition of popularity among those on the tour. However, he is also known for having made racist remarks regarding Tiger Woods during the 1997 Masters tournament. With his usual cocktail in hand, Zoeller made the remarks after finishing his final Masters round, a poor 78 that placed him in a tie for 34th in the final standings.[1]

Zoeller's comments at the Masters were: "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 not to serve fried chicken next year. Got it?"

Then Zoeller smiled, snapped his fingers, and walked away. Then he turned and added, "or collard greens or whatever the hell they serve." In reference to the food, Zoeller was referring to the following year's Master's Club Champion's Dinner. The defending champion selects the menu. Incidentally, Woods chose cheeseburgers, chicken sandwiches, French fries and milkshakes.[2]

The incident cost Zoeller endorsement deals including his most lucrative, K-Mart and Dunlop. He later publicly apologized for his racially insensitive remarks. He went as far as to meet with Woods to privately explain the surrounding circumstances of his provocative statements. Woods accepted his apology but initally refused to give specifics with regard to their conversation[3].

Later Zoeller went public with his alcoholism and prescription drug addiction, explaining that at the time he made those statements, he was "in the process of polishing off a fifth of Jack (Daniels) after popping a handful of vicodin pills". He further detailed the violent nature of his disease, recalling how he'd viciously beat his wife Dianne and their four children while under the influence of drugs and/or alcohol. He also admitted feigning a ruptured spinal disc in 1985 so as to be prescribed a multitude of prescription medication. [4]

He sought professional help and mended his fractured familial relationships. In May 2006, Zoeller said in an interview with Golf Digest magazine that he hadn't beaten his wife in nearly five years.

Zoeller joined the Champions Tour in 2002 and won a senior major, the Senior PGA Championship that year. As of May 2005 his only other Champions Tour win is the 2003 MasterCard Championship.

[edit] PGA Tour wins

1979 (2) Andy Williams-San Diego Open Invitational, The Masters
1981 (1) Colonial National Invitation
1983 (2) Sea Pines Heritage, Panasonic Las Vegas Pro Celebrity Classic
1984 (1) U.S. Open
1985 (1) Hertz Bay Hill Classic
1986 (3) Bing Crosby National Pro-Am, Sea Pines Heritage, Anheuser-Busch Golf Classic

Major championships shown in bold.

[edit] Champions Tour wins

2002 Senior PGA Championship
2003 MasterCard Championship

Senior major championship is shown in bold.

[edit] Other wins

1972 Florida State Junior College Championship (individual)
1973 Indiana State Amateur
1985 Skins Game
1986 Skins Game
1987 Merrill Lynch Shoot-Out Championship
2002 Senior Slam
2003 Tylenol Par-3 Challenge

[edit] Results in major championships

Tournament	1976	1977	1978	1979
The Masters	DNP	DNP	DNP	1
U.S. Open	T38	T44	CUT	CUT
The Open Championship	DNP	DNP	DNP	CUT
PGA Championship	DNP	T54	10	T54

Tournament	1980	1981	1982	1983	1984	1985	1986	1987	1988	1989
The Masters	T19	T43	T10	T20	T31	CUT	T21	T27	T16	T26
U.S. Open	T53	DNP	T15	CUT	1	T9	T15	CUT	T8	CUT
The Open Championship	CUT	DNP	T8	T14	T14	T11	T8	T29	T52	CUT
PGA Championship	T41	2	CUT	T6	DNP	T54	CUT	64	CUT	CUT

Tournament	1990	1991	1992	1993	1994	1995	1996	1997	1998	1999
The Masters	T20	T12	T19	T11	T35	CUT	CUT	T34	T33	CUT
U.S. Open	T8	T5	CUT	T68	T58	T21	DNP	T28	CUT	CUT
The Open Championship	DNP	T80	DNP	T14	3	DNP	CUT	DNP	DNP	DNP
PGA Championship	T14	CUT	DNP	T31	T19	69	T36	CUT	DNP	DNP