Published: January 25, 2006 11:29 am            

Fuzzy right back were he belongs

Commentary

I got hooked on Fuzzy Zoeller in 1979 during the Andy Williams San Diego Open. Watching a New Albany High School graduate, and resident, win his first PGA Tour event on TV was a thrill indeed.

In April of that year, I got even more hooked on the Fuz after his surprise playoff victory at The Masters.

In fact, those two wins are probably what got me turned on to golf. I still love watching it, especially when Fuzzy is involved, and playing it although I am borderline terrible.

The 2006 Champions Tour kicked off last weekend with the MasterCard Championship. For two rounds, Fuzzy was in the hunt before shooting a 76 — which included four bogeys and one double-bogey — in the final round. He earned $17,167 for his efforts.

Despite his third-round struggles, Fuzzy is once again feeling like Fuzzy.

He plans on playing in at least 20 Champions Tour events — and one PGA event, The Masters. In fact, one of the events he will play in 2006 is the Senior British Open.

Last year was not one of Fuzzy’s most memorable. He only earned $287,176 after picking up more than $700,000 during his Champions Tour rookie year.

One reason for last year’s struggles was health related. Prior to the season, Fuzzy received an angioplasty and never really got into a groove.

“It was a tough year last year,” Dave Lobeck, president of Fuzzy Zoeller Productions, said. “He was put on some different medications, and I think it took him a year to be reacquainted with his body.”

This year, however, he is back and feeling as good as ever. After shooting two solid rounds in the opening tourney, it also looks like Fuzzy’s game is also feeling pretty good.

“He was playing down in Naples before he headed off to the MasterCard, and he said he was hitting it pretty good,” Lobeck said. “He said overnight Sunday he just lost it. He tried to fix it but he just couldn’t. He was disappointed because he felt like he could make a run at the leaders.”

Fuzzy stayed in Hawaii and will play in the Turtle Bay Championship this weekend in Kahuku.

Lobeck said Fuzzy will likely play a full schedule next season as well before stepping back and looking at other options. At 54, and as one of golf’s most popular figures, there are many opportunities available for Mr. Zoeller. He is highly sought after for numerous corporate events.

“He has so many other things he could be doing,” Lobeck said.

This year also marks the 10th anniversary of Fuzzy’s Wolf Challenge, which is scheduled for Aug. 12-14 at Covered Bridge. Craig Stadler and John Daly have already committed to play in the event.

“We have already filled up a lot of our tourney sponsorships,” Lobeck said.

So, as the 2006 golf season gets under way, look for New Albany’s favorite son to have another stellar season.

Fuzzy Zoeller has been a great ambassador to the game and is the reason I got hooked on golf. But more importantly, he has been a great ambassador for this community.

        

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