Fuzzy Zoeller, a golf icon with two major titles to his name, has passed away at the age of 74. Born Frank Urban Zoeller Jr., he was a man known for both his on-course prowess and off-course controversies.
A three-time winner of the Masters Tournament, including in a dramatic playoff against Greg Norman in 1984, Zoeller's career was marked by moments of greatness and regrettable mistakes. His 1979 victory at Augusta National is still remembered as one of the most memorable finishes in major championship history, with Zoeller emerging victorious from a three-man playoff.
However, it was not just his golf that made headlines. In 1997, during his dominant performance at the Masters, Zoeller made a comment that would haunt him for years to come. Directing a racist remark towards Tiger Woods on his way to victory sparked widespread outrage and left many questioning whether Zoeller's career had finally caught up with him.
Zoeller eventually apologized for his actions but admitted in a 2008 Golf Digest interview that the incident had "the worst thing" happened to him throughout his entire life. Despite this setback, he went on to accumulate an impressive record of eight PGA Tour victories and two Senior PGA Championship titles.
Away from the course, Zoeller's personal life was marked by tragedy and loss. His wife, Diane, passed away in 2021, leaving behind three children, including daughter Gretchen with whom he shared a lifelong love for golf, playing in the PNC Championship together.
Throughout his illustrious career, Zoeller was recognized for his sportsmanship, earning him the USGA's highest honour, the Bob Jones Award, in 1985. His legacy will continue to be felt in the world of golf, both by those who admired his talent and achievements, and those who were left questioning his character off the course.
A three-time winner of the Masters Tournament, including in a dramatic playoff against Greg Norman in 1984, Zoeller's career was marked by moments of greatness and regrettable mistakes. His 1979 victory at Augusta National is still remembered as one of the most memorable finishes in major championship history, with Zoeller emerging victorious from a three-man playoff.
However, it was not just his golf that made headlines. In 1997, during his dominant performance at the Masters, Zoeller made a comment that would haunt him for years to come. Directing a racist remark towards Tiger Woods on his way to victory sparked widespread outrage and left many questioning whether Zoeller's career had finally caught up with him.
Zoeller eventually apologized for his actions but admitted in a 2008 Golf Digest interview that the incident had "the worst thing" happened to him throughout his entire life. Despite this setback, he went on to accumulate an impressive record of eight PGA Tour victories and two Senior PGA Championship titles.
Away from the course, Zoeller's personal life was marked by tragedy and loss. His wife, Diane, passed away in 2021, leaving behind three children, including daughter Gretchen with whom he shared a lifelong love for golf, playing in the PNC Championship together.
Throughout his illustrious career, Zoeller was recognized for his sportsmanship, earning him the USGA's highest honour, the Bob Jones Award, in 1985. His legacy will continue to be felt in the world of golf, both by those who admired his talent and achievements, and those who were left questioning his character off the course.
. I mean, two Masters wins? That's insane! But you know what really gets me is how he's being remembered now - all the good stuff, not just the bad. He may have said some hurtful words back in the day (so sorry Tiger 
His wife Diane was an amazing person too... I'm so glad they got to share all those special moments together 
. Zoeller might've made some mistakes, but it sounds like he learned from them and still had an incredible career. Not bad for someone who's no longer with us 
.
can you imagine getting away with something so hurtful and then later saying it was the worst thing that ever happened to him? anyway, i'm glad they finally gave him some recognition for his sportsmanship but at the same time u gotta respect tiger woods' response to zoeller's comment back in the day 
It's crazy how much of an impact one moment can have on someone's life, especially in a sport where image is everything. I always felt bad for Tiger Woods, who was just trying to live his dream and suddenly had this dude's hate raining down on him. Zoeller's apology came late, but it's nice to see that he owned up to what he did and took responsibility. Still sad about Diane, though... my heart goes out to Gretchen & the rest of the family 
, but let's get real, he had some major controversies surrounding that racist comment towards Tiger Woods in '97 
. It was a huge deal back then and still is today. But what really gets me is how quickly people moved on from it... I mean, 8 PGA Tour victories, 2 Senior PGA Championship titles? That's some impressive golf skills 
. Still, I guess you gotta respect his on-course achievements... and I'm sure his daughter Gretchen will make him proud 
.
. And it's awesome that he was recognized for his sportsmanship in 1985... it shows there's more to him than just that one mistake 
.
Fuzzy Zoeller... what a legend 
. Two major titles, yeah right! You can't even be remembered for one decent thing without being associated with that whole Tiger Woods incident 
. And can we please give it up for Diane - she was the real MVP 
. Maybe his legacy should be remembered as a cautionary tale about how not to handle yourself off the green 
.
Anyway, I think his sportsmanship award is still pretty cool 
and his daughter Gretchen seems like an awesome golfing partner 
. zoeller's golf skills though? mind-blowing! i mean, a 3-man playoff at the masters is crazy 
zoeller's got some 'splainin' to do... or maybe he was just trying to be a hero and ended up being a troll instead 
. whatever, his legacy is still cool i guess 
74 was old for a guy who won major titles, I guess... 
. According to data from Golf Digest, he earned around $6.5 million during his PGA Tour career, which puts him in the top 50 earners among all-time tour winners 
. He won at least one major every two years on average, which is pretty impressive considering the competition 
I'm feeling kinda bad about him, you know? People always bring up that racist comment he made back in 97, but at the same time, he's got so many amazing golf achievements under his belt 
... like that insane playoff win against Greg Norman in 84 
. He was an all-time great golfer and a true sportsman, for sure... and he got that Bob Jones Award in 85, which is like the ultimate golf honour 
.
. I mean, what was he thinking? 
. Too bad more people didn't see that & celebrate his sportsmanship achievements like he truly deserved 
. Zoeller's relationship with his wife Diane and daughter Gretchen serves as a poignant reminder that the consequences of such actions can be far-reaching and multifaceted