Grayson Murray, the professional golfer who won two PGA Tour titles and was outspoken about his battles with depression and alcohol, died on Saturday. He was 30.
His death was confirmed in a statement on Saturday by the PGA Tour. He died by suicide, according to a PGA Tour statement that was released on Sunday on behalf of his parents.
“We have spent the last 24 hours trying to come to terms with the fact that our son is gone,” the statement said. “It’s surreal that we not only have to admit it to ourselves, but that we also have to acknowledge it to the world.”
After a successful 40-foot putt to win the Sony Open in Hawaii in January, Murray rose to 46th in the Official World Golf Ranking, a career high. The event marked the height of a comeback run after several volatile years as Murray struggled with his mental health.
In a news conference after winning the Sony Open, Murray said that for a time he would drink during tournament weeks.
“Best thing and worst thing that ever happened to me was winning my rookie year, but also feeling like I was invincible,” he said. “I’m a different man now, and I would not be in this position right now, today, if I didn’t put that drink down eight months ago.”
He added that he had attended rehabilitation for a month. “I hope I can inspire a lot of people going forward that have their own issues,” he said. Murray had failed to gain PGA Tour status for several months last year after a series of off-course events mirrored a decline in his play.
An alcohol-related incident at a hotel bar in Hawaii in 2021 led to his suspension from the PGA Tour. Afterward, he posted to social media.
“Why was I drunk?” he wrote, adding that he was as an “alcoholic that hates everything to do with the PGA Tour life and that’s my scapegoat.”
The golfer Phil Mickelson, who has struggled with a gambling addiction, responded at the time on social media, saying “If I can help in any way I’d be happy to.”
This year, Murray played well enough to qualify for the Masters Tournament and P.G.A. Championship. On Friday, he withdrew from the second round of the Charles Schwab Challenge in Fort Worth, Texas, citing an illness.
Grayson Murray was born on Oct. 1, 1993, in Raleigh, N.C., according to an ESPN biography. Mr. Murray is survived by his parents, Eric and Terry, and his brother, Cameron, and sister, Erica, according to the statement.
He attended Wake Forest, East Carolina and Arizona State Universities, and at 16 he became the second-youngest player to enter the Korn Ferry Tour, according to the PGA Tour.
He continued to gain prominence, playing in the U.S. Open at the age of 19 and clinching a win at the 2017 Barbasol Championship, sinking a five-foot putt for a one-stroke victory.
After losing his PGA Tour card for the 2023 season, and following an angry outburst directed at Monahan, he seemed to have found his swing again. He won two Korn Ferry Tour tournaments last year, regaining his PGA Tour eligibility, and finished in the top 10 at two events.
If you are having thoughts of suicide, call or text 988 to reach the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline or go to SpeakingOfSuicide.com/resources for a list of additional resources.
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