Hamburgers and fries: Dinner for a champ
By PAUL NEWBERRY AP Sports Writer
AUGUSTA, Ga. (AP) - Fuzzy Zoeller ate cheeseburgers at the
Masters champions dinner, then broke his silence.
"It was great. We all had a great time," Zoeller
told The Augusta Chronicle upon leaving the clubhouse Tuesday
night with Tiger Woods. "It was a wonderful time for everyone."
This was one of the most talked about Masters champions dinners,
and not because Woods - who as defending champion can pick the
menu - ordered up cheeseburgers, chicken sandwiches, French fries
and milkshakes.
Zoeller sparked intense controversy last year when he told
reporters to tell Woods "not to serve fried chicken"
at the champions dinner, "or collard greens, or whatever
the hell they serve."
Zoeller insisted he was joking and apologized. Woods issued
a lukewarm acceptance of the apology, but the issue resurfaced
in the weeks leading to the Masters.
Zoeller refused to discuss it, and ignored reporters Tuesday
when he finished a practice round, which included an ace on No.
6.
Likewise, Woods was willing to put the issue to rest.
"It's done," he said. "It's one of those situations
that it's sad it did happen, but it's over with, and we've moved
on."
After the dinner, Woods said he was surprised his menu was
a big hit.
"I was surprised with the number of guys eating the meal,"
he said. "It was great, the chefs were great and the food
was superb. It was definitely a lot of fun, and an experience
I'll definitely remember for the rest of my life."
Past selections have included steak and kidney pie (Nick Faldo),
lamb (Ian Woosnam) and bluefish (Jose Maria Olazabel).
The past winners have the option of going with the champion's
fare or ordering from the club's regular menu.
"Most of the guys ate steaks, but a few of them tried
Tiger's choice," 1968 winner Bob Goalby said.
Zoeller was among those who ordered cheeseburgers.
"Sure, I ate them," he said. "They were delicious."
---
KITE ON WOODS: Forget the Ryder Cup. Tiger Woods isn't the
same player who wilted under the pressure of international team
competition, according to Tom Kite.
"He's playing better than he was," said Kite, captain
of the U.S. Ryder Cup team which lost to Europe in Valderrama,
Spain. "He was tense at the Ryder Cup. There's no question
about it."
Woods won the Masters last year with a record-breaking 12-stroke
victory over Kite. But it was a different story at the Ryder Cup,
where Woods was part of two losing duos and also dropped his singles
match to Costantino Rocca.
"I don't think he ever felt totally comfortable there,"
Kite said. "The golf course certainly was not suited for
his game, as opposed to this one, which is right up his alley.
So he had some adjustments there. But he's definitely playing
better now."
--- ... Tiger Woods will tee off at 1:30 p.m. Thursday in the
opening round, along with U.S. amateur champion Matt Kuchar. The
Masters always pairs the defending winner and the amateur champion,
a title that Woods held for three years in a row until turning
pro. ... Woods isn't the only defending champion at Augusta this
week. Sandy Lyle returns to defend his title in the par-3 contest,
which was scheduled for today. Last year, Lyle defeated Mark McNulty
with a birdie on the second playoff hole.
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