Trump Reacts to Death of Golfer Fuzzy Zoeller, Two-Time M...

By Gabe Whisnant

Breaking News Editor

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President Donald Trump shared his reaction to the death of Fuzzy Zoeller, the two-time major champion long regarded as one of golf’s most charismatic figures. Zoeller was 74-years-old.

The president, an avid golfer and follower of the sport, posted on Truth Social, "Very sad to hear that the highly respected and beloved Professional Golfer, Fuzzy Zoeller, has passed away. In 1979, Fuzzy won the Masters Tournament (Only 1 of 3 to win in his first appearance!) and, in 1984, he won the U.S. Open at Winged Foot Golf Club, and famously waved the white towel on the 18th Hole as he went on to beat Greg Norman in an 18 Hole playoff. A truly remarkable person and player, he will be missed!"

A cause of death for Fuzzy Zoeller was not immediately available. Brian Naugle, tournament director of the Insperity Invitational in Houston, said Zoeller’s daughter called him Thursday to share the news.

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Zoeller was the last player to win the Masters in his first appearance, capturing the green jacket in a three-man playoff in 1979. Five years later at the U.S. Open at Winged Foot, he famously waved a white towel in surrender when he thought Greg Norman had beaten him with a long putt on the 18th hole. Norman’s putt turned out to be only for par, and Zoeller went on to defeat him by eight shots in an 18-hole playoff the next day.

Zoeller long enjoyed a reputation as one of golf’s most personable and entertaining figures, but an incident at the 1997 Masters altered his public image. After finishing his round, Zoeller was standing under the oak tree near the Augusta National clubhouse with a drink in hand when he was stopped by CNN for comment on 21-year-old Tiger Woods, who was closing in on a historic victory.

Zoeller responded with remarks about Woods and the Champions Dinner menu that were widely condemned as racist. “Tell him not to serve fried chicken next year,” Zoeller said, later adding, “Or collard greens or whatever they serve.” The comments sparked national outrage and followed him for the rest of his career.

Zoeller apologized, though Woods did not address the comments for two weeks because he was traveling. Zoeller later said he received death threats for years. Writing in Golf Digest in 2008, he described the fallout as “the worst thing I’ve gone through in my entire life,” saying he cried often and regretted comments he said were made in jest but did not reflect who he was.

“Still, I’ve come to terms with the fact that this incident will never, ever go away,” he wrote.

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The controversy overshadowed a career that included two major championships, eight other PGA Tour victories and a Senior PGA Championship among his two PGA Tour Champions wins. Known for playing quickly and with a relaxed demeanor, Zoeller often whistled between shots and remained a gallery favorite for much of his career.

His breakthrough at the 1979 Masters came in a playoff with Tom Watson and Ed Sneed, who bogeyed the final three holes to fall back into a tie. Zoeller won with a birdie on the second playoff hole, tossing his putter into the air in celebration. “I’ve never been to heaven,” he once said. “I guess winning the Masters is as close as I’m going to get.”

Born Frank Urban Zoeller Jr. in New Albany, Indiana, he inherited the nickname “Fuzzy” from his father. He played junior college golf in Florida before joining the University of Houston’s powerhouse program and later turning professional.

Zoeller’s wife, Diane, died in 2021. He is survived by three children, including his daughter Gretchen, with whom he once competed in the PNC Championship. He received the USGA’s Bob Jones Award, its highest honor for sportsmanship, in 1985.

This article includes reporting by the Associated Press.

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