Grayson Murray, a two-time PGA Tour winner, died Saturday morning at the age of 30, just one day after withdrawing from the Charles Schwab Cup Challenge at Colonial.
The PGA Tour and his management team released no immediate details about his passing, merely expressing shock and loss.
“I am at a loss for words,” PGA Tour Commissioner Jay Monahan stated. “The PGA Tour is a family, and losing a member of that family changes you forever. We grieve Grayson and wish for comfort for his family.”
His management organization, GSE Worldwide, confirmed the passing and expressed grief.
“We will hold off on commenting until we learn further details, but our heart aches for his family, his friends and all who loved him during this very difficult time,” GSE stated in a statement.
Monahan said he called with Murray’s parents to express his sympathies, and they requested that the tournament in Fort Worth, Texas, continue.
He stated bereavement counselors would be present during the PGA Tour and Korn Ferry Tour events in Knoxville, Tennessee. Monahan traveled to Texas and later appeared on CBS as the third round concluded.
“To see the devastation on the faces of every player coming in is really difficult to see and really just profound,” Monahan stated. “Grayson was a fantastic golfer, but he was also a really brave man. I’ve always liked something about him.”
Murray, who had previously struggled with alcohol and mental health concerns, turned things around this year and won the Sony Open, shooting a wedge to 3 feet for birdie on the final hole to force a playoff and winning with a 40-foot putt.
He won the Barbasol Championship in 2017.
“It was a massive shock. “My heart sank,” said Webb Simpson, who learned of Murray’s death just before teeing off at Colonial. He stated that Murray was the first winner of his junior event, and they had the same swing coach as juniors.
“I just hate it so much,” Simpson confessed. “I’m missing him.” I’m grateful he was in a place of faith before this morning happened.”
Murray was ranked No. 58 in the world after finishing tied for 43rd at the PGA Championship in Valhalla last week. He also made the cut in his Masters debut, placing 51st, and will compete in the U.S. Open at Pinehurst No. 2 next month.
Murray, who grew up in North Carolina, was one of the most talented juniors in the country. He won the coveted Junior World Championship in San Diego three consecutive years and was awarded the Arnold Palmer Scholarship at Wake Forest.
He attended three institutions before graduating from Arizona State, where he won the Barbasol Championship as a 22-year-old PGA Tour rookie.
Murray announced in January that he had been sober for eight months, was engaged to be married, had become a Christian, and believed his greatest golf days were ahead of him. He was appointed to the Player Advisory Council, which consists of 16 members.
“My tale is not complete. “I believe it is only the beginning,” Murray remarked in Hawaii. “I hope I can inspire a lot of people going forward that have their own issues.”
Murray admitted that he used to drink during tournament weeks as a rookie because he knew he had talent and believed he was untouchable. He also promoted himself on social media, openly criticizing other players and engaging in a social media battle with Kevin Na about Na’s image as a sluggish player.
But he believed he had turned a corner when he sought help — allowing people to fight for him, as he put it this year.
“It took me a long time to get to this point,” Murray remarked in January. “That was seven years, more than seven years ago. I am a different man now. I wouldn’t be in this position now if I hadn’t downed that drink eight months ago.”
Murray’s Colonial teammates included Peter Malnati. He offered to appear on the CBS show Saturday afternoon and instantly broke down when asked about him.
“It’s a huge loss for all of us on the PGA Tour,” Malnati said. “As much as we want to beat each other, we’re one huge family, and one member died tonight. “It’s terrible.”
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This post has been amended to reflect that Murray won the Barbasol Championship in 2017, not last year.
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