Sony Open winner Grayson Murray dies at age 30
CRAIG T. KOJIMA / STAR-ADVERTISER / JAN. 14
Grayson Murray holds his trophy and flashes a shaka after winning the Sony Open in January. Murray died after dropping out of tournament in Fort Worth, Texas, on Friday, the PGA Tour announced today.
JIM DEDMON / USA TODAY / May 9
Grayson Murray surveys the 14th green during the first round of the Wells Fargo Championship golf tournament in Charlotte, North Carolina, this month. Murray died after dropping out of tournament in Fort Worth, Texas, on Friday, the PGA Tour announced today.
PGA Tour member and Sony Open winner Grayson Murray died by suicide, his parents confirmed in a statement this morning.
The death of Murray was announced by commissioner Jay Monahan on Saturday, one day after the 30-year-old golfer cited illness following his withdrawal from the Charles Schwab Challenge at Fort Worth, Texas.
On Sunday morning, his parents, Eric and Terry, provided the following statement: “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.
“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.
“We would like to thank the PGA TOUR and the entire world of golf for the outpouring of support. Life wasn’t always easy for Grayson, and although he took his own life, we know he rests peacefully now.”
Grayson Murray won this year’s Sony Open in January at the Waialae Country Club in Kahala. Murray won after sinking a 38-foot birdie putt on the first playoff hole, beating Byeong Hun An and Keegan Bradley. It was his second career victory after coming out on top at the Barbasol Championship in 2017 at Nicholasville, Ky.
Murray had been open about his battles with alcoholism and mental health challenges. After winning the Sony Open, an emotional Murray discussed his struggle with mental issues and admitted he had considered suicide.
“It’s not easy,” he said at the time. “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.”
Grayson Murray also won the Barbasol Championship in 2017 at Nicholasville, Ky.
His best result in a major was a tie for 22nd at the 2017 PGA Championship.
He gained his PGA Tour card for 2024 by winning twice on the Korn Ferry Tour last season. That tour recognized Murray on Sunday morning with a moment of remembrance.
A native of Raleigh, N.C., Grayson Murray was a three-time winner of the Callaway Junior Championships. He attended East Carolina, Wake Forest and Arizona State, playing in the U.S. Open for the first time in 2013 as an amateur.
At the Charles Schwab Challenge on Sunday, players wore red and black ribbons. Murray wore those colors on Sundays in honor of his hometown team, the Carolina Hurricanes.
