Zoeller appreciates Fleetwood’s gesture for Par-3 Contest

Fuzzy Zoeller has never met Tommy Fleetwood.

That, however, is set to change today. Fleetwood is making his first Masters Tournament appearance and made a point to sign up to play with Zoeller in the annual Par-3 Contest. Zoeller, who won the Masters in 1979, is the last rookie to win the green jacket.

“I like the way he’s thinking,” Zoeller said of Fleetwood. “We’ve never met, but I already like the kid. I like a student of history. I bet he wasn’t even born when I won in ’79.”

Fleetwood, the long-haired Englishman, was born in 1991.

The 26-year-old qualified for the Masters by being ranked in the world’s top 50. Currently, Fleetwood is No. 32 – a career best.

“I’ll do my best to rub some luck on him,” Zoeller said. “In all my years playing the Par-3, no other (first-time Masters) player has ever thought of this.”

When asked how he was able to win in his first appearance, Zoeller was quick to pay tribute to his Augusta National caddie, Jariah Beard.

Zoeller’s 1979 sudden-death playoff victory over Tom Watson and Ed Sneed was the first by a rookie since Gene Sarazen in 1935.

“Jariah Beard knew everything about this place,” Zoeller said. “I can’t explain how much he helped me that week. When I hit shots into the greens, he was already telling me which way the putt would break.”

1979: Fuzzy Zoeller wins in first Masters try

Fleetwood prepares for first Masters, looks back on his time as tournament patron

Fuzzy Zoeller's 1979 scores and statistics

Hole By Hole Scores
4th Round
Hole	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	Out	10	11	12	13	14	15	16	17	18	IN	Tot
Par	4	5	4	3	4	3	4	5	4	36	4	4	3	5	4	5	3	4	4	36	72
Rd 4	4	5	4	4	4	3	4	4	4	36	4	4	4	4	4	4	3	3	4	34	70
Tot	-6	-6	-6	-5	-5	-5	-5	-6	-6	-6	-6	-6	-5	-6	-6	-7	-7	-8	-8	-8	-8


3rd Round
Hole	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	Out	10	11	12	13	14	15	16	17	18	IN	Tot
Par	4	5	4	3	4	3	4	5	4	36	4	4	3	5	4	5	3	4	4	36	72
Rd 3	3	5	4	3	3	3	3	4	4	32	5	4	3	4	4	5	3	4	5	37	69
Tot	-4	-4	-4	-4	-5	-5	-6	-7	-7	-7	-6	-6	-6	-7	-7	-7	-7	-7	-6	-6	-6


2nd Round
Hole	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	Out	10	11	12	13	14	15	16	17	18	IN	Tot
Par	4	5	4	3	4	3	4	5	4	36	4	4	3	5	4	5	3	4	4	36	72
Rd 2	4	5	3	3	3	4	4	4	4	34	5	4	3	6	3	4	3	5	4	37	71
Tot	-2	-2	-3	-3	-4	-3	-3	-4	-4	-4	-3	-3	-3	-2	-3	-4	-4	-3	-3	-3	-3


1st Round
Hole	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	Out	10	11	12	13	14	15	16	17	18	IN	Tot
Par	4	5	4	3	4	3	4	5	4	36	4	4	3	5	4	5	3	4	4	36	72
Rd 1	4	4	4	3	4	3	4	3	4	33	4	4	5	5	4	4	3	4	4	37	70
Tot	0	-1	-1	-1	-1	-1	-1	-3	-3	-3	-3	-3	-1	-1	-1	-2	-2	-2	-2	-2	-2