Two-time major winner dies at 74, while legacy remains marked by racist comment about Woods
Fuzzy Zoeller, a two-time major golf champion once celebrated for his friendly manner and quick humour, has died at the age of 74. His death was confirmed by a family notification delivered to Brian Naugle, the tournament director of the Insperity Invitational in Houston. No cause of death has been released.
Born Frank Urban Zoeller Jr in New Albany, Indiana, he became one of the most recognisable figures in golf during a career filled with memorable moments. His breakthrough arrived at the 1979 Masters, where he became the first player in more than forty years to win the tournament on his first attempt. He triumphed after a tense three-way playoff and walked away with the green jacket that cemented his name in golfing history.
Five years later, he won the United States Open at Winged Foot after another dramatic sequence. Believing Greg Norman had holed a long birdie putt to beat him, Zoeller waved a white towel from the fairway in mock surrender. The putt was actually for par, and Zoeller returned the next day to win the playoff by eight shots. It became one of the most talked about moments in United States Open history and strengthened his image as a player who enjoyed both the tension and the theatre of elite sport.
United States President Donald Trump offered a public tribute, describing Zoeller as respected, beloved and truly remarkable. He praised Zoeller for his major championships and for the spirited attitude that defined much of his playing career.
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Despite these achievements, a single moment in 1997 would come to dominate the later years of Zoeller’s life. During the Masters that year, as Tiger Woods surged toward a historic and culture-shifting victory, Zoeller made a remark that would alter his reputation permanently. Stopped by a CNN crew near the Augusta National clubhouse, he offered a comment about Woods that included references to fried chicken and collard greens. The remark, intended as a joke, was widely condemned as racist and resulted in an immediate wave of criticism.
Zoeller apologised, but the controversy intensified. Woods did not address the comment for two weeks as he travelled, and the delayed response brought even more attention to the incident. Zoeller later said he received death threats for years afterwards. In an interview with Golf Digest in 2008, he described the fallout as the worst experience of his life and said he cried many times as he absorbed the anger directed toward him. He insisted that the remark did not reflect who he was, yet accepted that the moment would follow him forever.
Away from this incident, Zoeller’s career achievements remained significant. He won eight additional PGA Tour titles, claimed two victories on the PGA Tour Champions circuit, including a Senior PGA Championship, and represented the United States in three Ryder Cups. His relaxed style, quick pace of play and habit of whistling between shots made him a crowd favourite.
His 1979 Masters victory still stands as one of the most iconic tournament debuts. He reached a playoff after Ed Sneed bogeyed the final three holes, then struck his approach close on the second playoff hole and rolled in the winning birdie. He once said that winning the Masters felt as close to heaven as he was ever likely to get.
Zoeller played college golf at Edison Junior College and later at the University of Houston before turning professional in 1973. His wife Diane died in 2021. He is survived by three children, including his daughter Gretchen, with whom he regularly competed in the PNC Championship. In 1985, he received the United States Golf Association Bob Jones Award for sportsmanship.