Topzle Topzle

Fuzzy Zoeller

Updated: Wikipedia source

Fuzzy Zoeller

Frank Urban "Fuzzy" Zoeller Jr. (; November 11, 1951 – November 27, 2025) was an American professional golfer who won 10 PGA Tour events including two major championships. He won the 1979 Masters Tournament, becoming the third golfer to win in his first appearance in the event. He also won the 1984 U.S. Open.

Infobox

Full name
Frank Urban Zoeller Jr.
Nickname
Fuzzy
Born
(1951-11-11)November 11, 1951New Albany, Indiana, U.S.
Died
November 27, 2025(2025-11-27) (aged 74)
Height
5 ft 10 in (1.78 m)
Weight
190 lb (86 kg; 14 st)
Sporting nationality
United States
Residence
Floyds Knobs, Indiana, U.S.
Spouse
Diane Thornton Zoeller
Children
4
College
Edison Junior College (FL)University of Houston
Turned professional
1973
Former tours
PGA TourChampions Tour
Professional wins
19
PGA Tour
10
PGA Tour Champions
2
Other
7
Masters Tournament
Won: 1979
PGA Championship
2nd: 1981
U.S. Open
Won: 1984
The Open Championship
3rd: 1994
Bob Jones Award
1985

Tables

· Professional wins (19) › PGA Tour wins (10)
Major championships (2)
Major championships (2)
Legend
Major championships (2)
Other PGA Tour (8)
Other PGA Tour (8)
Legend
Other PGA Tour (8)
Legend
Major championships (2)
Other PGA Tour (8)
· Professional wins (19) › PGA Tour wins (10)
Andy Williams-San Diego Open Invitational
Andy Williams-San Diego Open Invitational
No.
1
Date
Jan 28, 1979
Tournament
Andy Williams-San Diego Open Invitational
Winning score
76-67-67-72=282
To par
−6
Margin ofvictory
5 strokes
Runner(s)-up
Billy Kratzert, Wayne Levi, Artie McNickle, Tom Watson
Masters Tournament
Masters Tournament
No.
2
Date
Apr 15, 1979
Tournament
Masters Tournament
Winning score
70-71-69-70=280
To par
−8
Margin ofvictory
Playoff
Runner(s)-up
Ed Sneed, Tom Watson
Colonial National Invitation
Colonial National Invitation
No.
3
Date
May 17, 1981
Tournament
Colonial National Invitation
Winning score
67-69-68-70=274
To par
−6
Margin ofvictory
4 strokes
Runner(s)-up
Hale Irwin
Sea Pines Heritage
Sea Pines Heritage
No.
4
Date
Apr 18, 1983
Tournament
Sea Pines Heritage
Winning score
67-72-65-71=275
To par
−9
Margin ofvictory
2 strokes
Runner(s)-up
Jim Nelford
Panasonic Las Vegas Pro Celebrity Classic
Panasonic Las Vegas Pro Celebrity Classic
No.
5
Date
Sep 18, 1983
Tournament
Panasonic Las Vegas Pro Celebrity Classic
Winning score
63-70-70-64-73=340
To par
−18
Margin ofvictory
4 strokes
Runner(s)-up
Rex Caldwell
U.S. Open
U.S. Open
No.
6
Date
Jun 18, 1984
Tournament
U.S. Open
Winning score
71-66-69-70=276
To par
−4
Margin ofvictory
Playoff
Runner(s)-up
Greg Norman
Hertz Bay Hill Classic
Hertz Bay Hill Classic
No.
7
Date
Mar 10, 1985
Tournament
Hertz Bay Hill Classic
Winning score
70-72-66-67=275
To par
−9
Margin ofvictory
2 strokes
Runner(s)-up
Tom Watson
AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro-Am
AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro-Am
No.
8
Date
Feb 2, 1986
Tournament
AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro-Am
Winning score
69-66-70=205
To par
−11
Margin ofvictory
5 strokes
Runner(s)-up
Payne Stewart
Sea Pines Heritage (2)
Sea Pines Heritage (2)
No.
9
Date
Apr 20, 1986
Tournament
Sea Pines Heritage (2)
Winning score
68-68-69-71=276
To par
−8
Margin ofvictory
1 stroke
Runner(s)-up
Chip Beck, Roger Maltbie, Greg Norman
Anheuser-Busch Golf Classic
Anheuser-Busch Golf Classic
No.
10
Date
Jul 13, 1986
Tournament
Anheuser-Busch Golf Classic
Winning score
70-68-72-64=274
To par
−10
Margin ofvictory
2 strokes
Runner(s)-up
Jodie Mudd
No.
Date
Tournament
Winning score
To par
Margin ofvictory
Runner(s)-up
Refs.
1
Jan 28, 1979
Andy Williams-San Diego Open Invitational
76-67-67-72=282
−6
5 strokes
Billy Kratzert, Wayne Levi, Artie McNickle, Tom Watson
2
Apr 15, 1979
Masters Tournament
70-71-69-70=280
−8
Playoff
Ed Sneed, Tom Watson
3
May 17, 1981
Colonial National Invitation
67-69-68-70=274
−6
4 strokes
Hale Irwin
4
Apr 18, 1983
Sea Pines Heritage
67-72-65-71=275
−9
2 strokes
Jim Nelford
5
Sep 18, 1983
Panasonic Las Vegas Pro Celebrity Classic
63-70-70-64-73=340
−18
4 strokes
Rex Caldwell
6
Jun 18, 1984
Open
71-66-69-70=276
−4
Playoff
Greg Norman
7
Mar 10, 1985
Hertz Bay Hill Classic
70-72-66-67=275
−9
2 strokes
Tom Watson
8
Feb 2, 1986
AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro-Am
69-66-70=205
−11
5 strokes
Payne Stewart
9
Apr 20, 1986
Sea Pines Heritage (2)
68-68-69-71=276
−8
1 stroke
Chip Beck, Roger Maltbie, Greg Norman
10
Jul 13, 1986
Anheuser-Busch Golf Classic
70-68-72-64=274
−10
2 strokes
Jodie Mudd
· Professional wins (19) › PGA Tour wins (10)
Masters Tournament
Masters Tournament
No.
1
Year
1979
Tournament
Masters Tournament
Opponent(s)
Ed Sneed, Tom Watson
Result
Won with birdie on second extra hole
Colonial National Invitation
Colonial National Invitation
No.
2
Year
1983
Tournament
Colonial National Invitation
Opponent(s)
Jim Colbert
Result
Lost to par on sixth extra hole
U.S. Open
U.S. Open
No.
3
Year
1984
Tournament
U.S. Open
Opponent(s)
Greg Norman
Result
Won 18-hole playoff;Zoeller: −3 (67),Norman: +5 (75)
Tour Championship
Tour Championship
No.
4
Year
1994
Tournament
Tour Championship
Opponent(s)
Mark McCumber
Result
Lost to birdie on first extra hole
No.
Year
Tournament
Opponent(s)
Result
Refs.
1
1979
Masters Tournament
Ed Sneed, Tom Watson
Won with birdie on second extra hole
2
1983
Colonial National Invitation
Jim Colbert
Lost to par on sixth extra hole
3
1984
Open
Greg Norman
Won 18-hole playoff;Zoeller: −3 (67),Norman: +5 (75)
4
1994
Tour Championship
Mark McCumber
Lost to birdie on first extra hole
· Professional wins (19) › Champions Tour wins (2)
Senior major championships (1)
Senior major championships (1)
Legend
Senior major championships (1)
Other Champions Tour (1)
Other Champions Tour (1)
Legend
Other Champions Tour (1)
Legend
Senior major championships (1)
Other Champions Tour (1)
· Professional wins (19) › Champions Tour wins (2)
Senior PGA Championship
Senior PGA Championship
No.
1
Date
Jun 9, 2002
Tournament
Senior PGA Championship
Winning score
−2 (69-71-70-68=278)
Margin ofvictory
1 stroke
Runner(s)-up
Hale Irwin, Bobby Wadkins
MasterCard Championship
MasterCard Championship
No.
2
Date
Jan 25, 2004
Tournament
MasterCard Championship
Winning score
−20 (67-65-64=196)
Margin ofvictory
1 stroke
Runner(s)-up
Dana Quigley
No.
Date
Tournament
Winning score
Margin ofvictory
Runner(s)-up
Refs.
1
Jun 9, 2002
Senior PGA Championship
−2 (69-71-70-68=278)
1 stroke
Hale Irwin, Bobby Wadkins
2
Jan 25, 2004
MasterCard Championship
−20 (67-65-64=196)
1 stroke
Dana Quigley
· Major championships › Wins (2)
1979
1979
Year
1979
Championship
Masters Tournament
54 holes
6 shot deficit
Winning score
70-71-69-70=280
To par
−8
Margin
Playoff1
Runner(s)-up
Ed Sneed, Tom Watson
1984
1984
Year
1984
Championship
U.S. Open
54 holes
1 shot deficit
Winning score
71-66-69-70=276
To par
−4
Margin
Playoff2
Runner(s)-up
Greg Norman
Year
Championship
54 holes
Winning score
To par
Margin
Runner(s)-up
Refs.
1979
Masters Tournament
6 shot deficit
70-71-69-70=280
−8
Playoff1
Ed Sneed, Tom Watson
1984
Open
1 shot deficit
71-66-69-70=276
−4
Playoff2
Greg Norman
· Major championships › Results timeline
Masters Tournament
Masters Tournament
Tournament
Masters Tournament
1979
1
U.S. Open
U.S. Open
Tournament
U.S. Open
1976
T38
1977
T44
1978
CUT
1979
CUT
The Open Championship
The Open Championship
Tournament
The Open Championship
1979
CUT
PGA Championship
PGA Championship
Tournament
PGA Championship
1977
T54
1978
10
1979
T54
Tournament
1976
1977
1978
1979
Masters Tournament
1
Open
T38
T44
CUT
CUT
The Open Championship
CUT
PGA Championship
T54
10
T54
· Major championships › Results timeline
Masters Tournament
Masters Tournament
Tournament
Masters Tournament
1980
T19
1981
T43
1982
T10
1983
T20
1984
T31
1985
CUT
1986
T21
1987
T27
1988
T16
1989
T26
U.S. Open
U.S. Open
Tournament
U.S. Open
1980
T53
1982
T15
1983
CUT
1984
1
1985
T9
1986
T15
1987
CUT
1988
T8
1989
CUT
The Open Championship
The Open Championship
Tournament
The Open Championship
1980
CUT
1982
T8
1983
T14
1984
T14
1985
T11
1986
T8
1987
T29
1988
T52
1989
CUT
PGA Championship
PGA Championship
Tournament
PGA Championship
1980
T41
1981
2
1982
CUT
1983
T6
1985
T54
1986
CUT
1987
64
1988
CUT
1989
CUT
Tournament
1980
1981
1982
1983
1984
1985
1986
1987
1988
1989
Masters Tournament
T19
T43
T10
T20
T31
CUT
T21
T27
T16
T26
Open
T53
T15
CUT
1
T9
T15
CUT
T8
CUT
The Open Championship
CUT
T8
T14
T14
T11
T8
T29
T52
CUT
PGA Championship
T41
2
CUT
T6
T54
CUT
64
CUT
CUT
· Major championships › Results timeline
Masters Tournament
Masters Tournament
Tournament
Masters Tournament
1990
T20
1991
T12
1992
T19
1993
T11
1994
T35
1995
CUT
1996
CUT
1997
T34
1998
T33
1999
CUT
U.S. Open
U.S. Open
Tournament
U.S. Open
1990
T8
1991
T5
1992
CUT
1993
T68
1994
T58
1995
T21
1997
T28
1998
CUT
1999
CUT
The Open Championship
The Open Championship
Tournament
The Open Championship
1991
T80
1993
T14
1994
3
1996
CUT
PGA Championship
PGA Championship
Tournament
PGA Championship
1990
T14
1991
CUT
1993
T31
1994
T19
1995
69
1996
T36
1997
CUT
Tournament
1990
1991
1992
1993
1994
1995
1996
1997
1998
1999
Masters Tournament
T20
T12
T19
T11
T35
CUT
CUT
T34
T33
CUT
Open
T8
T5
CUT
T68
T58
T21
T28
CUT
CUT
The Open Championship
T80
T14
3
CUT
PGA Championship
T14
CUT
T31
T19
69
T36
CUT
· Major championships › Results timeline
Masters Tournament
Masters Tournament
Tournament
Masters Tournament
2000
CUT
2001
CUT
2002
CUT
2003
CUT
2004
CUT
2005
CUT
2006
CUT
2007
60
2008
CUT
2009
CUT
U.S. Open
U.S. Open
Tournament
U.S. Open
The Open Championship
The Open Championship
Tournament
The Open Championship
PGA Championship
PGA Championship
Tournament
PGA Championship
2002
CUT
Tournament
2000
2001
2002
2003
2004
2005
2006
2007
2008
2009
Masters Tournament
CUT
CUT
CUT
CUT
CUT
CUT
CUT
60
CUT
CUT
Open
The Open Championship
PGA Championship
CUT
· Major championships › Summary
Masters Tournament
Masters Tournament
Tournament
Masters Tournament
Wins
1
2nd
0
3rd
0
Top-5
1
Top-10
2
Top-25
10
Events
31
Cuts made
18
U.S. Open
U.S. Open
Tournament
U.S. Open
Wins
1
2nd
0
3rd
0
Top-5
2
Top-10
5
Top-25
8
Events
22
Cuts made
14
The Open Championship
The Open Championship
Tournament
The Open Championship
Wins
0
2nd
0
3rd
1
Top-5
1
Top-10
3
Top-25
7
Events
14
Cuts made
10
PGA Championship
PGA Championship
Tournament
PGA Championship
Wins
0
2nd
1
3rd
0
Top-5
1
Top-10
3
Top-25
5
Events
20
Cuts made
13
Totals
Totals
Tournament
Totals
Wins
2
2nd
1
3rd
1
Top-5
5
Top-10
13
Top-25
30
Events
87
Cuts made
55
Tournament
Wins
2nd
3rd
Top-5
Top-10
Top-25
Events
Cuts made
Masters Tournament
1
0
0
1
2
10
31
18
Open
1
0
0
2
5
8
22
14
The Open Championship
0
0
1
1
3
7
14
10
PGA Championship
0
1
0
1
3
5
20
13
Totals
2
1
1
5
13
30
87
55
· Results in The Players Championship
The Players Championship
The Players Championship
Tournament
The Players Championship
1975
CUT
1976
79
1977
CUT
1978
CUT
1979
CUT
1980
CUT
1981
CUT
1982
T56
1983
CUT
1985
T27
1986
CUT
1987
T54
1988
T23
1989
T45
1990
CUT
1991
2
1992
T64
1993
T34
1994
2
1995
T55
1996
T4
1997
T14
1999
CUT
Tournament
1975
1976
1977
1978
1979
1980
1981
1982
1983
1984
1985
1986
1987
1988
1989
1990
1991
1992
1993
1994
1995
1996
1997
1998
1999
The Players Championship
CUT
79
CUT
CUT
CUT
CUT
CUT
T56
CUT
T27
CUT
T54
T23
T45
CUT
2
T64
T34
2
T55
T4
T14
CUT
· Champions Tour major championships › Wins (1)
2002
2002
Year
2002
Championship
Senior PGA Championship
Winning score
69-71-70-68=278
To par
−2
Margin
2 strokes
Runners-up
Hale Irwin, Bobby Wadkins
Year
Championship
Winning score
To par
Margin
Runners-up
Refs.
2002
Senior PGA Championship
69-71-70-68=278
−2
2 strokes
Hale Irwin, Bobby Wadkins

References

  1. The only two other golfers to have won The Masters on their debut at Augusta were the winners of the first two Masters t
  2. Shortened to 54 holes due to weather.
  3. Golf Digest
    https://www.golfdigest.com/story/fuzzy-zoeller-dies-74-masters-us-open-tiger-woods-2025
  4. ihsaa.org
    https://web.archive.org/web/20190424054608/http://www.ihsaa.org/Sports/Boys/Golf/TeamStateChampions/tabid/212/Default.aspx#2233913-individuals
  5. The Guardian
    https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2025/dec/01/fuzzy-zoeller-obituary
  6. pgatour.com
    https://www.pgatour.com/article/news/latest/2025/11/27/pga-tour-champions-tour-winner-fuzzy-zoeller-dies-age-74
  7. The Telegraph
    https://www.telegraph.co.uk/obituaries/2025/11/28/fuzzy-zoeller-golfer-masters-remarks-tiger-woods-obituary/
  8. Golfweek
    https://golfweek.usatoday.com/story/sports/golf/2024/04/14/masters-rookies-to-win-at-augusta-national/73319412007/
  9. The New York Times
    https://www.nytimes.com/2006/06/12/sports/golf/the-shark-the-towel-and-the-wave.html
  10. ESPN
    https://www.espn.com/golf/story/_/id/47120544/two-major-champion-golfer-fuzzy-zoeller-dies-74
  11. Chicago Tribune
    https://www.chicagotribune.com/1994/07/17/fittingly-zoeller-thrives-on-sunny-day-at-turnberry/
  12. golfcompendium.com
    https://www.golfcompendium.com/2020/05/1979-ryder-cup.html
  13. rydercup.com
    https://www.rydercup.com/news-media/remember-when-1983-ryder-cup
  14. collections.st-andrews.ac.uk
    https://collections.st-andrews.ac.uk/item/fuzzy-zoeller-and-hubert-green-in-concentration-as-they-walk-up-the-fairway-at-the-1985-ryder-cup/400047
  15. fuzzyvodka.com
    https://web.archive.org/web/20170818115706/http://www.fuzzyvodka.com/vodka.html
  16. fuzzyvodka.com
    https://fuzzyvodka.com/
  17. "2016 Indianapolis 500 Sponsors"
    https://web.archive.org/web/20161221051842/http://www.edcarpenterracing.com/2016-indianapolis-500-sponsors/
  18. Miami Herald
  19. The Smoking Gun
    http://www.thesmokinggun.com/archive/years/2007/0222071fuzzy1.html
  20. Sports Illustrated
    https://web.archive.org/web/20070224105702/http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2007/scorecard/02/22/truth.rumors.golf/index.html
  21. pga.com
    https://web.archive.org/web/20070327022900/http://www.pga.com/news/tours/champions/zoeller022207.cfm
  22. itwire.com
    http://www.itwire.com/your-it-news/home-it/9913-wikipedia-entry-causes-pro-golfer-fuzzy-zoeller-to-sue
  23. "Zoeller v. Josef Silny & Associates"
    http://www.dmlp.org/threats/zoeller-v-josef-silny-associates
  24. The Telegraph
    https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/1946275/Wikipedia-fights-defamation-lawsuit.html
  25. usga.org
    https://www.usga.org/content/usga/home-page/articles/2025/11/Fuzzy-Zoeller-1984-US-Open-Champion-Dies-at-74.html
  26. Hartford Courant
    https://www.newspapers.com/article/hartford-courant-fuzzy-zoeller-meet-th/186030181/
  27. The Corydon Democrat
    https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-corydon-democrat-old-capital-invitat/186030319/
  28. The Century Club
    https://pgatourmedia.pgatourhq.com/static-assets/page/files/tours/2024/pgatour/farmersinsuranceopen/eventMediaGuide/Record%20Book.pdf
  29. "Masters – Past Winners & Results"
    https://www.masters.com/en_US/tournament/past_winners.html
  30. Kingsport Times-News
    https://www.newspapers.com/article/kingsport-times-news-pga-results-colon/186202296/
  31. The Island Packet
    https://www.islandpacket.com/sports/golf/rbc-heritage-tournament/article206983629.html
  32. The Daily Herald
    https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-daily-herald-pga-scores-750000-l/186202553/
  33. Golf Compendium
    https://www.golfcompendium.com/2018/10/1984-us-open.html
  34. The Orlando Sentinel
    https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-orlando-sentinel-bay-hill-statistics/186202812/
  35. Sun-News
    https://www.newspapers.com/article/sun-news-the-pga-tour-so-far/186202915/
  36. The Globe
    https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-globe-8-foot-sudden-death-putt-wins/186203163/
  37. The Albuquerque Tribune
    https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-albuquerque-tribune-cbs-misses-colbe/186203259/
  38. USA Today
    https://www.newspapers.com/article/usa-today-zoeller-joins-fast-crowd-with/186203484/
  39. Florida Today
    https://www.newspapers.com/article/florida-today-sports/186203664/
  40. Poughkeepsie Journal
    https://www.newspapers.com/article/poughkeepsie-journal-fuzzys-game-is-fun/186203733/
  41. San Antonio Light
    https://www.newspapers.com/article/san-antonio-light-zoeller-enjoys-the-gam/186203835/
  42. The Bay City Times
    https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-bay-city-times-par-3-shootout-in-gay/186203910/
  43. PGA
    https://images.pgalinks.com/vmc/pressReleases/MG_2012_SrPGA.pdf
  44. The Windsor Star
    https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-windsor-star-mastercard-championship/186204197/
  45. GolfPass
    https://www.golfpass.com/travel-advisor/articles/public-superstition-mountain-golf-and-country-club-brings-pga-level-play-to-gold-canyon-arizona
  46. The Plain Dealer
    https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-plain-dealer-wendys-champions-skins/186204377/
  47. The Daily Herald
    https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-daily-herald-wendys-champions-skins/186204507/
  48. Pacific Daily News
    https://www.newspapers.com/article/pacific-daily-news-us-wins-ryder-cup/186205154/
  49. The Jackson Sun
    https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-jackson-sun-us-wins-ryder-cup/186205272/
  50. The Mobile Register
    https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-mobile-register-ryder-cup-team/186205327/
  51. San Francisco Chronicle
    https://www.newspapers.com/article/san-francisco-chronicle-golf-fans-to-gat/186205461/
Image
Source: —
Tip: Wheel or +/− to zoom, drag to pan, Esc to close.