Zoeller greeted with open arms at Colonial
By JAIME ARON / AP Sports Writer
FORT WORTH, Texas (AP) - If Fuzzy Zoeller had any doubts about
how he would be received at the Colonial, his first tournament
since offending Tiger Woods, they were gone by the time he drove
up to the clubhouse Wednesday.
A few houses from the main driveway, a banner draped between
two massive pillars read, "We Love Fuzzy!"
That sentiment continued throughout the afternoon as a gallery
of more than 200 followed the tournament's 1981 champion, cheering
his every move and laughing heartily at all his jokes.
Zoeller has been off the PGA Tour since the Masters, where
he called Woods "that little boy" and urged him not
to request fried chicken or collard greens for the Champions Dinner
next year at Augusta National.
It was exactly a month ago Wednesday that Zoeller first apologized
for those statements, but the fallout has continued. Kmart stopped
sponsoring him and he says he's received venomous letters calling
him racist.
Zoeller got a chance to tell Woods he was sorry in a face-to-face
meeting Tuesday. Afterward, both said all is well, although there
were signs that isn't totally the case.
The two didn't cross paths Wednesday.
Zoeller was in the second-to-last group teeing off in the pro-am
preceeding the MasterCard Colonial. He didn't even arrive until
a half-hour before his 1:29 p.m. tee time, long after Woods finished.
The gallery for Woods was only slightly bigger than Zoeller's,
although his 7:28 a.m. starting time and cold, cloudy weather
probably kept many more people away.
The Colonial, where Zoeller is playing for the 19th time, proved
to be the perfect place for his return to the tour.
There was tremendous applause along with whoops and cheers
when he was introduced. One fan hollered a negative comment about
Kmart which Zoeller responded to with a big smile and laugh.
Zoeller didn't waste time hamming it up. After his first tee
shot, he spread his arms widely then used his hand to shield his
eyes as if watching his drive soar. The fans ate it up.
Minutes later, Zoeller joined the rest of his playing partners
and much of the gallery in singing "Happy Birthday"
to teammate Russ Chappell, who turned 50 Wednesday.
The red marker Zoeller kept tucked in his back pocket nearly
ran out of ink as he signed dozens of hats and programs as well
as a woman's shirt sleeve and a $1 bill. After one hole, he took
a ball out of his pants pocket, signed it and offered it to a
young boy.
Two Fort Worth police officers walked with Zoeller's group
- which isn't usually done in the pro-am - but they were hardly
needed. Their biggest duty was handing autographed items to fans
as Zoeller walked between shots.
The crowd went the wildest at the par-3 13th, where about 400
people were packed around a grandstand behind the green. They
cheered louder than the gang at first tee and chanted "Fuz-zee,
Fuz-zee" as he approached. One man screamed "Tar-get,
Tar-get" in yet another jab at Kmart's breakup with Zoeller.
"We still love you man," another voice cried.
As for his game, there were little signs of his six-week layoff.
He parred most holes with a few birdies - including a near ace
at 16 - and a few bogeys.
Zoeller, who smoked constantly and used a cellular phone occasionally,
also wasn't afraid to cut up a little. He teased his partners
after bad shots and joked with his caddy.
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