Distraught Zoeller Quits Greater Greensboro Classic
Choking back tears, Fuzzy Zoeller withdrew from this week’s PGA tournament, saying he wanted to apologize personally to Tiger Woods for racially insensitive remarks he made about the Masters champion.
“I am the one who screwed up and I will pay the price,” Zoeller said Wednesday in pulling out of the Greater Greensboro Chrysler Classic at Forest Oaks Country Club.
The surprising move came one day after Kmart severed its ties with Zoeller because of his remarks.
Zoeller, 45, said he couldn’t continue playing competitive golf until talking with the 21-year-old Woods, who on April 13 became the first black to win a major.
“I am trying to reach him and he’s a very hard man to get ahold of,” Zoeller said.
For the third straight day, Zoeller read a statement apologizing for calling Woods “that little boy” and urging him not to request fried chicken and collard greens at the Champions Dinner when he returns to Augusta National next year.
Zoeller then shocked the crowd of reporters by withdrawing from the tournament.
“I started this, and I feel strongly that I have to make things right with Tiger first before anything else,” he said.
“I also regret the distraction this has caused the world of golf. What I said is distracting people at this tournament. And that’s not fair to the other people on this course trying to play this tournament.”
Zoeller refused to answer questions and left with reporters trailing.
On Tuesday night, the Greensboro Jaycees honored Zoeller for his loyalty to the event.
PGA Tour commissioner Tim Finchem said in a statement that Zoeller “recognizes that the comments he made at Augusta were inappropriate, unacceptable and deeply offensive to a great many people.”
“By making this additional statement, I think he demonstrated how deep his concerns are regarding the inappropriateness of these comments,” Finchem said.
Before making his statement, Zoeller consulted with Davis Love III, one of four golfers on the PGA Tour policy board.
Love said he hoped Woods and Zoeller would hook up soon and put the controversy behind them.