Zoeller At Center Of Another Insensitive Remark Black Friend Says Their Exchange Was Intended To Be Taken As A Joke

Fuzzy Zoeller, still trying to joke his way out of trouble over racially insensitive remarks, traded quips with a black golfer Monday about “fried chicken” and “watermelon.”

Playing at the Thornblade Classic, a charity pro-am and his first outing since his widely reported comments about Tiger Woods, Zoeller bantered with Victor McBryde.

“Hey, Fuzzy,” yelled McBryde, on the tee box two holes ahead of Zoeller, who was teeing off on the second hole.

Zoeller shouted back to McBryde about getting “you some fried chicken.”

McBryde told Zoeller not to forget the “cornbread.”

And Zoeller replied, “How about some watermelon?”

About 20 people were standing around Zoeller, and most of them laughed.

Just last week, Zoeller was criticized for calling Woods “that little boy” and for asking the Masters champion not to order fried chicken or collard greens for next year’s champions dinner.

Kmart subsequently dropped Zoeller as a spokesman and he withdrew from the Greater Greensboro Chrysler Classic after apologizing to Woods.

Zoeller and McBryde, a district manager for a chain of doughnut stores out of Winston-Salem, N.C., said they are friends, and their exchange was meant as a joke.

McBryde said he and Zoeller laughed together at a pre-tournament dinner on Sunday and just continued it on the course. Zoeller’s remarks about Woods were inappropriate, McBryde said. But “Fuzzy and I can kid that way in a certain atmosphere.”

“Don’t pepper me,” Zoeller told reporters afterward. “We were just out there laughing, having fun. That was meant as a joke. That’s a very touchy subject.

“What’s appropriate in America anymore?” he said. “What I said at Augusta was kind of a joke and I got nailed for it.

“It’s amazing how, when you deliver a line, some people laugh, some people don’t,” Zoeller said. “You don’t need to write anything about that.”

When the PGA Tour received word Monday of Zoeller’s most recent comments, it sought clarification of exactly what was said.

Zoeller was as popular with the crowd here. He was cheered from tee-to-green and fans lined up to have him sign visors, programs and admission tickets.

About 30 fans walked down a hill to the bowl-shaped fairway on the third hole to applaud him. Zoeller told the fans he appreciated their support, slapping some of them on the back or shaking hands.

“I talked to him and he’s down,” said Brad Faxon, a touring pro since 1983. “You don’t see him like that too often.”