Two-time PGA Tour winner Grayson Murray “took his own life,” his parents confirmed as they described the “nightmare” of coming to terms with his death.
The American died at the age of 30 after withdrawing from the Charles Schwab Challenge event on Friday after playing 16 holes of his second round. After the sport’s leading figures paid tribute and expressed their shock, his parents, Eric and Terry Murray, described the family’s heartbreak.
“We have spent the last 24 hours trying to come to terms with the fact that our son is gone,” they said in a statement. “It’s surreal that not only do we have to admit it to ourselves, but we have to admit it to the world. It’s a nightmare. 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, his entire extended family, by his friends, by his co-stars and – it seems – by many of you reading this. He was loved and he will be missed.”
In January, after his latest victory at the Sony Open in Hawaii, Murray spoke about his battle with anxiety and depression and revealed that he had sought treatment for alcohol abuse in recent years but had been sober for several months. Three years ago, he posted on social media that he felt the Tour wasn’t doing enough to help players dealing with illnesses like his.
On Friday, he withdrew with two holes remaining in Friday’s second round due to illness, and his death was announced by PGA Tour commissioner Jay Monahan, who said Murray’s parents had asked to continue the event in Fort Worth after they had spoken to them.
“We would like to thank the PGA Tour and the entire golf world for the outpouring of support,” Murray’s parents added. “Life was not always easy for Grayson, and although he took his own life, we know he now rests peacefully.
“Please respect our privacy as we deal with this incredible tragedy, and honor Grayson by being kind to each other. If that becomes his legacy, we couldn’t ask for anything else.”
Murray qualified for the PGA Tour in 2016 at the age of 22 and won his first title in 2017 with victory at the Barbasol Championship.
He won a second career title with victory at the Sony Open in Hawaii, which took him to a career-high ranking of 46 in the world.
Murray was a controversial character. After battling anxiety, depression and alcohol abuse during his young career, as well as repeated problems on social media, he acknowledged he was unprepared for the professional tours.
Grayson’s temper became infamous and this reputation was hardly helped when last year, during a fiery players’ meeting over the PGA Tour’s proposed merger with the Saudi-funded LIV Golf League, he told Rory McIlroy to quit.
But after getting engaged to Christina Ritchie in 2023 and “rediscovering my faith,” Murray was celebrated for turning his life and career around. Victory in Hawaii in January – seven years after his first win – seemed to revive his career
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