Tiger Woods said Thursday he was stunned by Fuzzy Zoeller’s racially insensitive remarks, but believes no offense was intended and accepts Zoeller’s apology.
“At first, I was shocked to hear that Fuzzy Zoeller made these unfortunate remarks,” Woods said in a statement released by the Los Angeles office of IMG, his management agency. “His attempt at humor was out-of-bounds, and I was disappointed by it. But having played golf with Fuzzy, I know he is a jokester; and I have concluded that no personal animosity toward me was intended. I know he feels badly about the remarks. We all make mistakes, and it is time to move on.”
Zoeller, 45, was fired by his sponsor, Kmart, and withdrew from the Greater Greensboro Chrysler Classic Wednesday.
Sandy Lyle carded a 6-under-par 66 Thursday in Greensboro, N.C., to share the first-round lead with Mike Hulbert and tour rookie Robert Damron.
