Murray, 30, died Saturday 1 day after withdrawing from tournament
The death of PGA Tour golfer Grayson Murray at age 30 on Saturday shook the sports world.
The two-time PGA Tour winner had withdrawn from the Charles Schwab Challenge on Friday, two holes shy of completing his second round, citing an illness. He had been 5-over on the day with three straight bogeys and was +3 in the tournament.
Murray’s parents, in breaking their silence on Sunday, confirmed that Murray died of suicide.
“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,” they said in a statement.
“We have so many questions that have no answers. But one,” they continued. “Was Grayson loved? 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.”
PGA Tour Commissioner Jay Monahan said he spoke to Murray’s parents earlier Saturday to offer his condolences, and they both agreed that tournament play should continue.
“They were adamant that Grayson would want us to do so. As difficult as it will be, we want to respect their wishes,” Monahan wrote in a statement.
Grayson had two wins in his career on tour, including this year’s Sony Open in Hawaii in a playoff against Keegan Bradley and An Byeong-hun. His first came at the 2017 Barbasol Championship.
Murray had battled depression and anxiety earlier in life and also sought treatment for alcohol abuse; in January, he said he had been sober for several months.
He made the cut in both major championships this year, finishing last week’s PGA Championship T43.
He also finished T10 at the Wells Fargo Championship this month.
