Woods And Zoeller Play Through
It had such possibilities. Would they talk? Would there be fireworks? Would someone cough or jingle change during a back swing? A group hug?
Those were the questions on the minds of thousands of spectators who ringed the practice green and first tee at Augusta National Golf Club on Friday afternoon, more than hour before the scheduled 2 p.m. tee time. They came to see defending champion Tiger Woods and former winner Fuzzy Zoeller, with Colin Montgomerie an added bonus.
Woods may have forgiven Zoeller for racially insensitive comments made during last year's Masters, but he hasn't forgotten. Innocent or not, the remarks struck a nerve.
The two golfers talked during the annual champions dinner Tuesday night. Woods chose cheeseburgers for the meal, although there were other options on the menu. Fuzzy went with the burger.
"Out of respect for the defending champion," he told Jack Nicklaus.
The usually affable Zoeller fueled the controversy by refusing an invitation to the press room on Thursday. He might be tired of addressing the subject, but created more interest with his no-show.
There was anxious air of anticipation when they arrived Friday. After a quick handshake on the putting green, both went separate ways. The whistling Zoeller, who wore sunglasses despite the windy, overcast conditions, had a cigarette dangling from his mouth, and chatted with Montgomerie, Scott Hoch and Paul Stankowski, while Woods hung with his teacher, Butch Harmon.
They might come from different worlds, but they had at least one thing in common: animal head covers. Woods had an orange tiger, Zoeller a yellow duck.
When Zoeller arrived at the first tee, he received a loud ovation. Woods was accorded polite applause. All three players split the fairway, with Woods out-driving Montgomerie and Zoeller by 50 yards. Woods escaped with par while the others made bogeys.
Sit went. There was a 10-minute wait on the second tee, so the trio watched 66-year-old Gay Brewer hit. Brewer made news Thursday by shooting a 72, and pounded a big drive down the second fairway. Woods gave him an appreciative smile and Fuzzy clapped. Brewer shot 86 and missed the cut.
Among the observers at the par-3 fourth hole was 43-year-old Ronald Whitfield, a black caddie at the course. Born and raised in Augusta, he still doesn't understand what all the fuss is about, but was glad to see Woods and Zoeller together.
"Hell yes!" he said. "I loved it. It's great for the game."
Whitfield, who once packed for Tom Kite in the tournament, is a fan of both players.
"He's (Zoeller) a real jokester," said Whitfield. "He just said something a lot of the people took the wrong way. I don't think he meant anything bad at all."
Was he offended by Zoeller's comments?
"Not the least little bit," he said.
There was little banter between the threesome until the par-3 sixth hole, which measures 180 yards and tumbles downhill. Montgomerie swung first and hit a gorgeous shot, the ball stopping about six feet from the hole. Woods did even better, the massive gallery erupting when his shot finished about a foot closer.
Zoeller didn't miss a beat. Smiling, he turned to the crowd and said, "How do I top that? A hole-in-one?"
Zoeller missed the ace, but hit a fine shot to within 12 feet. As Woods walked off the tee, he turned back and said, "Nice shot."
All three made birdies -- a rarity at No. 6, and it seemed to relax the group.
At the par-4 seventh hole, Zoeller cracked up Montgomerie and Woods on the green. Despite good approach shots, especially considering the wind and tough pin placement, the gallery didn't clap. Zoeller wondered aloud what the trio had to do for acknowledgment.
"People have no idea," Woods said later, referring to the tough conditions. "They're all handcuffed."
As was the case Thursday, it was a long, windy day. Woods made a great par-saving putt at 18 to shoot 72, and trails co-leaders Fred Couples and David Duval by four strokes. Zoeller shot 74 and is six back, while Montgomerie shot 75 and is seven behind.
Afterward, Zoeller brushed past reporters again and did a fast walk to the clubhouse. Asked how the day went, he replied, "Everything was lovely, everything was wonderful. The only problem was it took five hours and 15 minutes to play."
With about 30 writers in hot pursuit, Zoeller was asked how it went with Woods.
"No big deal," e said. "You guys are making a big deal about this. He's a person like everyone else."
With that, Zoeller climbed the narrow staircase and headed for the Champions Locker Room, off-limits to reporters. About half continued the chase, clogging the lobby of the clubhouse. Among those stuck in the gridlock was Nicklaus.
"What's going on here?" Nicklaus said with a bewildered look on his face.
It was not a pretty scene. Had club founder Bobby Jones witnessed it, he wouldn't have been pleased.
Woods did come to the press room and said other than waiting on every shot, he had an enjoyable time. What was it like playing with Zoeller?
"I was fine with it," he said. "I had no problems at all."
Does he wish this story would go away? You bet.
"It's been over and done with," Woods said. "Fuzzy and I buried it a long time ago."
Maybe so. But Zoeller has changed. He's no longer the happy, out-going guy he once was around the media. Zoeller hasn't come out and said it, but his actions speak loud and clear: He feels burned and betrayed, and might never trust the media again.
Sad.
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