"I’ll miss you beyond words" - John Daly mourns 'father figure' Fuzzy Zoeller with heartfelt tribute

John Daly paid a heartfelt tribute to Fuzzy Zoeller after the veteran golfer passed away on Thursday, November 27. Daly referred to him as his best friend and "father figure," stating that the veteran golfer "helped him a ton" in his career.

On Thursday, two-time major champion Fuzzy Zoeller passed away at the age of 74. The veteran golfer won the 1979 Masters in a playoff and also defeated Greg Norman to claim the 1984 US Open in an extra hole.

John Daly shared a photograph with Fuzzy Zoeller and penned a heartfelt note.

"To a best friend and a father figure who helped me a ton in my life… I’ll miss you beyond words🕊️ Rest in Peace Fuzzy," he wrote.

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When Fuzzy Zoeller came in support of John Daly

Daly and Zoeller played together several times on the PGA Tour, and their friendship spanned many decades. A few years ago, when Daly was under scrutiny for his gambling and drinking problems, Zoeller came to the support of his friend, stating that the golfer wasn't the only one with this problem.

"He's not the only guy who's gambled too much or had troubled relationships," he said as per via Golf Digest. "There are casinos in every city these days and bars on every corner, but you'd think he's the only human who's visited either one. It's his life, and he's living it the way he wants to live it. It's all his choice, and why can't we let it go at that? I'll tell you why: Because everybody's a critic."

"People carry on about John's weight. But if the average person walked 18 holes five days a week, that's 30 miles a week, and hit as many balls as he does, they'd be in trouble. John has no issues with strength. His stamina is good. John Daly, believe it or not, is in shape," he added.

Besides two majors, Zoeller won 17 professional titles in his career, including ten on the PGA Tour. His maiden win came at the Andy Williams-San Diego Open Invitational in 1979, while he won his tenth and final PGA Tour title at the Anheuser-Busch Golf Classic in 1986.

The Indiana-native also had wins in Skins games as well as on the Senior Tour. In 2002, he clinched the Senior PGA Championship, beating Hale Irwin and Bobby Wadkins.

Zoeller's last professional win also came on the PGA Tour Champions in 2004 when he won the MasterCard Championship, beating Dana Quigley by two strokes.