Zoeller tries to put difficult week behind
him
GREENVILLE, S.C. (AP) - Fuzzy Zoeller, still stinging from
the uproar over insensitive remarks about Tiger Woods, returned
to form today, wisecracking with players and spectators at a charity
pro-am.
"Isn't it nice I don't have to WD (withdraw) from this
tournament?" Zoeller said after teeing off in the Thornblade
Classic, a one-day event to raise money for Greenville schools
and other community groups. Zoeller had withdrawn from the Greater
Greensboro Chrysler Open last week following the criticism that
followed his comments about the Masters champion.
"You take your bumps, you take your licks and you get
up and you shake them off and you keep on ticking and keep moving
forward," Zoeller said Sunday night at a dinner for the charity
event.
Sponsors canceled the tournament because of heavy rains, then
decided 45 minutes later to play nine holes after the amateurs
who signed up complained. Zoeller signed autographs while waiting
to determine whether the event would be canceled.
The crowd applauded when Zoeller teed off and he wasted no
time in poking fun at a competitor.
When CBS analyst Gary McCord's drive on the fifth hole dribbled
off the tee, Zoeller cracked, "Now I know why you went to
the (broadcast) booth."
While Zoeller was joking as usual on the course, he did skip
a photo session before the tournament with 32 other professional
golfers, including Fred Couples, Tom Kite, Phil Mickelson, Brad
Faxon and Jay Haas.
Asked to comment on Woods' runaway win in Augusta, Zoeller
referred to the new champion as "that little boy" and
urged he not serve fried chicken or collard greens at next year's
Masters Champions Dinner.
The ensuing furor cost Zoeller a sponsorship contract with
Kmart, where he endorsed a line of golf equipment and apparel,
and led him to withdraw from the Greensboro event so he could
apologize to Woods personally.
Though that meeting still hasn't taken place, Woods issued
a statement Thursday night accepting Zoeller's apology, though
he said he was "shocked" to hear about the remarks.
Zoeller said PGA Commissioner Tim Finchem called him before
Woods' statement was released to the media.
"I said, 'What about talking to him?' " Zoeller recalled.
"(Finchem) said, 'Tiger would like to talk to you just as
friends on the PGA Tour.' That will happen probably at the Colonial,
when I'll be out next, which is fine."
The Colonial is scheduled for May 22-25 at Fort Worth, Texas.
Zoeller said he also has received many words of encouragement
from supporters, including NFL coaches Marty Schottenheimer of
Kansas City and Mike Ditka of New Orleans.
"They've just told me to keep my head up and keep plugging
right along," said Zoeller, one of golf's most prominent
quipsters.
"It's easy to run from your problems, but why run? I'm
not runner. Look at this body, does this look like a runner? You
know what I mean. There's no reason to run from anything."
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