Career firsts: Fuzzy Zoeller

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Fuzzy Zoeller last won on the Champions Tour at the 2004 MasterCard Championship.

Even professional golfers had to start somewhere. With the 2009 season just around the corner, PGATOUR.COM will take a look at some important firsts -- including their first golf lesson and PGA TOUR win -- for popular Champions Tour golfers and PGA TOUR veterans. Learn more about Fuzzy Zoeller.

FIRST GOLF LESSON. "My first lesson came when I was three years old from a professional named Bus Schultz and I played my first competitive tournament when I was five. Bus died in 1979 about three weeks after I won The Masters. Early on, he emphasized the grip, the stance and maintaining balance. It wasn't so much about creating a perfect golf swing. Every golfer is built differently and they all have individual styles. I think that's what's great about the guys on the Champions Tour. You see that different style."

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Zoeller celebrates his second win on the Champions Tour.

FIRST START IN A PGA TOUR EVENT. The 1975 Sun City Open. He tied for sixth in that event and earned $368.50.

FIRST PGA TOUR VICTORY. 1979 Andy Williams-San Diego Open Invitational. Zoeller's opening-round 76 likely had him wondering if he'd make the cut, much less win the tournament. But the TOUR funnyman came back with rounds of 67, 67 and 72 to beat Bill Kratzert, Wayne Levi, Artie McNickle and Tom Watson by five strokes.

FIRST MAJOR CHAMPIONSHIP WIN. 1979 Masters. Not only was it Zoeller's first major win, it was also his first appearance at Augusta National. When it started, he was a dark horse candidate and had only gained entrance into the field by winning in San Diego a few months before. Even on the back nine on Sunday, it looked like Ed Sneed had one arm in the Green Jacket. Tom Watson and Jack Nicklaus were also in the hunt. But Zoeller played the last four holes in 2-under par then waited for Sneed to finish. When Sneed struggled down the stretch, a young Zoeller suddenly found himself in a playoff with Sneed and Watson to win the Masters. Zoeller birdied the 11th hole to win the tournament, but he lost his putter in the process when he celebrated by throwing it high into the air.

FIRST MILLION-DOLLAR SEASON. 1994. Zoeller earned $1,016,804.

FIRST CHAMPIONS TOUR START. The 2002 Royal Caribbean Classic, where he tied for 51st in the rain-shortened event.

FIRST CHAMPIONS TOUR WIN. 2002 Senior PGA Championship. It had been over 15 years since Zoeller last won when he finally found his way back into the winners' circle. Zoeller captured his first title in his rookie season and became the 11th player to make his maiden Champions Tour win a major championship. He beat Bobby Wadkins and Hale Irwin for the crown and was the only player in the field to finish under par at Firestone Country Club.

OTHER FIRSTS. Zoeller has finished first often in his career -- 10 times on the PGA TOUR, including two majors, and twice on the Champions Tour -- but his best financial season came when he didn't even win. He was a five-time runner-up in 1994. ... His first name is actually Frank. Because his full name is Frank Urban Zoeller -- F.U.Z. -- he goes by "Fuzzy". ... Zoeller followed in the footsteps of Horton Smith (1934) and Gene Sarazen (1935) when he won the Masters in his first attempt. ... In addition to his titles on the PGA TOUR and Champions Tour, Zoeller also won the 1985 and 1986 Skins Game and the 1987 Merrill Lynch Shoot-Out.