Zoeller steals the show at charity event

Victoria Sun

Wednesday, Nov. 7, 2001 | 9:21 a.m.

Fuzzy Zoeller talks a lot, laughs even more and puts on one heck of a show.

For these reasons, he may be just what the Senior PGA Tour needs to attract more fans and keep those who have decided that waiting in line at the supermarket is more interesting than watching the Geritol gang hit golf balls.

Zoeller insists that he can't heighten the popularity of the Senior Tour all by himself, but he does have a good idea on how to help it.

"I don't think changes to the tour have to be made," he said. "The game's hard enough.

"I just think the players have to open up a bit more. That's basically it. Open up and show the people out there that even though this is a rude game, it's a fun game to play."

Five days shy of his 50th birthday, Zoeller had no qualms about opening up before and after playing in the Wendy's Three-Tour Challenge at the SouthShore Golf Club at the Lake Las Vegas Resort on Tuesday.

LPGA stars Dottie Pepper, Annika Sorenstam and Karrie Webb won the event, which raised $2,025,000 for the Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption. Sorenstam edged Senior PGA Tour player Tom Watson in a playoff hole, but Zoeller stole the show with his antics.

The Wendy's Three-Tour Challenge will be broadcast Dec. 15 and 16 on ABC. Jack Nicklaus rounded out the senior team and Mark Calcavecchia, Fred Couples and John Daly represented the PGA Tour.

On the par-14 18th hole, Zoeller hit his tee shot atop a jagged mountain. After hitting a provisional shot, he sent his caddy to search for the ball.

Zoeller engaged in a candid dialogue with his caddy, then opted to hike the mountain with two clubs in his hand.

"Let's do it!" he exclaimed, perhaps forgetting about his three back surgeries.

Zoeller's zest for adventure won out over logic and reason.

He later joked that the lie was so bad he couldn't have cheated if he wanted to, and hit his second shot straight down into a bush.

Once he navigated his way down the mountain and looked at his ball wedged in the bush he bellowed, "I'm not going back up. Not gonna do it."

Zoeller took a drop and finally hit his ball in the right direction. He ended up taking a double-bogey.

"If it hadn't been a new ball, I wouldn't have gone up there," he explained in between laughs. "I was trying hard to figure out how to make a 5.

"It was fun, though."

That is precisely what Zoeller, a former Masters and U.S. Open champion, hopes to have on the Senior Tour.

He scaled back his schedule on the PGA Tour this year because he plans on spending the next five years playing a full senior tour schedule.

"I hope the holes are bigger," Zoeller said, chuckling loudly. "I don't care about the courses being shorter.

"You know, I understand that when you turn 50, going out on the senior tour you putted into oceans instead of a 4 1/4-inch round cup. So hopefully that's what it'll look like when I'm putting out there."