(Rightallegiance.com) – The world of golf was struck by a heartbreaking tragedy as Grayson Murray, a 30-year-old PGA Tour player, took his own life. His parents shared this devastating news on Sunday, just a day after he withdrew from a PGA Tour event. They asked for privacy and encouraged people to honor Grayson by showing kindness to one another.
“If that becomes his legacy, we could ask for nothing else,” said his parents, Eric and Terry Murray, in a statement released by the PGA Tour.
Grayson Murray had recently spoken about overcoming significant challenges, including battles with alcoholism and mental health issues. In January, after winning the Sony Open in Honolulu, he shared his journey towards a better life. Despite his efforts, he passed away on Saturday morning.
Murray had worked hard to regain his PGA Tour card through the Korn Ferry Tour. His emotional win at the Sony Open, where he birdied the last hole to enter a playoff and then made a remarkable 40-foot birdie putt to secure victory, was a testament to his resilience.
“It’s not easy,” Murray admitted after his win. “I wanted to give up a lot of times. Give up on myself. Give up on the game of golf. Give up on life, at times.” Last week, he tied for 43rd place at the PGA Championship, maintaining his position among the top 60 to qualify for the U.S. Open next month in his home state of North Carolina.
Grayson started strong at Colonial, shooting a 68 in the first round. However, he struggled in the next round, shooting 5 over par and withdrawing due to illness after three consecutive bogeys.
PGA Tour Commissioner Jay Monahan spoke with Murray’s parents about stopping the tournament, but they insisted it continue. Monahan traveled to Fort Worth, Texas, to support the players, many of whom wore black-and-red pins on their caps in honor of Murray, representing his favorite NHL team, the Carolina Hurricanes.
“We have spent the last 24 hours trying to come to terms with the fact that our son is gone. It’s surreal that we not only have to admit it to ourselves, but that we also have to acknowledge it to the world. It’s a nightmare,” his parents expressed in their statement.
“We have so many questions that have no answers. But one. Was Grayson loved? The answer is yes. By us, his brother Cameron, his sister Erica, all of his extended family, by his friends, by his fellow players and — it seems — by many of you who are reading this. He was loved and he will be missed.
“Life wasn’t always easy for Grayson, and although he took his own life, we know he rests peacefully now.”
Grayson’s golfing talent was evident from a young age. He began playing golf at 8 and won his age division three consecutive years at the prestigious Junior World Championship in San Diego. However, he struggled to find his place in college, attending Wake Forest, East Carolina, and Arizona State.
Ted Kiegel, Grayson’s first coach in North Carolina, was deeply affected by the news. “Words cannot express the tragedy of this moment,” Kiegel said in a statement. “Grayson came from something that was ordinary and made it EXTRAORDINARY. … He burned bright for the 30 years he gave us.”
Murray’s professional career began with a win at the Barbasol Championship in Kentucky as a 22-year-old rookie. However, he soon faced frustration as his progress didn’t match that of his peers. He was always candid about his struggles with depression, anxiety, and alcohol. One of his lowest moments came in 2021 at the Sony Open, where he was suspended for an incident at a Hawaii bar. Murray took to social media to express his anger, saying, “Why was I drunk? Because I’m a (expletive) alcoholic that hates everything to do with the PGA Tour life and that’s my scapegoat.”
Despite these challenges, Murray showed incredible resilience. Commissioner Monahan reflected on this, stating, “I think one of the elements of his legacy is his resiliency. … self-assessing, coming back, becoming in his own eyes a stronger human being, and then winning three times in the past year. To me, that’s a level of resiliency that is extraordinary.”
In a message to others facing similar struggles, Murray had said, “Everyone has their battles. Sometimes people are able to hide them and function, and sometimes you’re not. I think our society now is getting better about accepting that it’s OK to not be OK. I’ve embraced that mentality. I’m not ashamed that I go through depression and anxiety.”
After his Sony Open victory, which earned him a spot in the Masters for the first time, Murray spoke of a new chapter in his life. He had become a Christian and was engaged to Christina Ritchie, with their wedding planned for late April.
“My story is not finished. I think it’s just beginning,” Murray said in Hawaii. “I hope I can inspire a lot of people going forward that have their own issues.”
Grayson Murray’s passing is a profound loss for the golf community and all who knew him. His story of perseverance and his openness about mental health struggles leave a lasting legacy.