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Fuzzy Zoeller may be best known today for racist comments about Tiger Woods' menu choices at the Masters. But what is lesser known than the Tiger Woods comments are Fuzzy Zoeller's other 30 years Fuzzy Zoeller may be best known today for racist comments about Tiger Woods' menu choices at the Masters. But what is lesser known than the Tiger Woods comments are Fuzzy Zoeller's other 30 years competing at Augusta, which came to an end yesterday. Zoeller missed the cut at the 2009 Masters, as expected, to end his final year competing at the famed golf tournament. But 30 years at Augusta, and one historic Masters win, are a drop in the bucket compared to his comments in 1997.
Tiger Woods was on his way to his first Masters win in 1997, in one of the most dominant performances of all time. During Woods' coronation, Fuzzy Zoeller was asked for comments about him, which started off as complementary. But it was his final comments that made a big stir. The 21-year-old Woods won the tournament, shooting a record 18 under par, becoming the first African American to win a major professional golf tournament. Woods' father is African-American and his mother is Asian-American.
With drink in hand, Zoeller made the remarks April 13 after finishing his final Masters round, a poor 78 that placed him in a tie for 34th in the final standings.
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 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." Zoeller advised the press to tell Woods "not to serve fried chicken next year" at the Masters annual Champions Dinner. As he left, Zoeller made it even worse by adding "Or collard greens or whatever the hell they serve."
The comments were dubbed racist, since fried chicken and collard greens are stereotypical foods best associated with African-Americans. It took a while for Zoeller's words to get through all the Woods hoopla, as they first made headlines a week later. But that was all it took for Zoeller, once one of the PGA's most notable and quotable names, to be thrown under the racist label.
Zoeller had previously made nothing but positive headlines at Augusta, especially in 1979, when he won the Masters on his very first try. The Masters newcomer even came back from a large deficit against Ed Sneed and Tom Watson. To add to the history, Zoeller won in the first ever playoff at the Masters.
Tiger Woods was on his way to his first Masters win in 1997, in one of the most dominant performances of all time. During Woods' coronation, Fuzzy Zoeller was asked for comments about him, which started off as complementary. But it was his final comments that made a big stir. The 21-year-old Woods won the tournament, shooting a record 18 under par, becoming the first African American to win a major professional golf tournament. Woods' father is African-American and his mother is Asian-American.
With drink in hand, Zoeller made the remarks April 13 after finishing his final Masters round, a poor 78 that placed him in a tie for 34th in the final standings.
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 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." Zoeller advised the press to tell Woods "not to serve fried chicken next year" at the Masters annual Champions Dinner. As he left, Zoeller made it even worse by adding "Or collard greens or whatever the hell they serve."
The comments were dubbed racist, since fried chicken and collard greens are stereotypical foods best associated with African-Americans. It took a while for Zoeller's words to get through all the Woods hoopla, as they first made headlines a week later. But that was all it took for Zoeller, once one of the PGA's most notable and quotable names, to be thrown under the racist label.
Zoeller had previously made nothing but positive headlines at Augusta, especially in 1979, when he won the Masters on his very first try. The Masters newcomer even came back from a large deficit against Ed Sneed and Tom Watson. To add to the history, Zoeller won in the first ever playoff at the Masters.
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