Jack Hirsh
David Cannon/Getty Photographs
The PGA Tour suffered a sudden and surprising loss on Saturday.
In a letter to the PGA Tour membership, Commissioner Jay Monahan introduced that Grayson Murray, a two-time winner who won earlier this season at the Sony Open in January, had handed away Saturday morning. He was 30 years outdated.
Murray was within the subject at this week’s Charles Schwab Problem in Fort Price, Texas, however withdrew after the sixteenth gap of his second spherical, citing sickness.
Right here’s Monahan’s assertion in full:
“We had been devastated to study — and are heartbroken to share — that PGA TOUR participant Grayson Murray handed away this morning. I’m perplexed.
“The PGA Tour is a household, and if you lose a member of your loved ones, you’re by no means the identical. We mourn Grayson and pray for consolation for his family members.
“I reached out to Grayson’s dad and mom to supply our deepest condolences, and through that dialog, they requested that we proceed with match play. They had been adamant that Grayson would need us to take action. As tough as it will likely be, we need to respect their needs.
“The PGA Tour has grief counselors out there at each match websites, in addition to nearly for these not within the subject. I’m en path to Ft. Price and can share extra data after we can.”
Murray, whose different PGA Tour victory got here seven years in the past on the 2017 Barbasol Championship, was open about his struggles with substance abuse disorder all through his skilled profession. He took time away from the sport in 2021 after getting into a remedy facility for assist with alcohol. His 2022 season was additionally interrupted as he handled the challenges of sobriety.
However 2023 and early 2024 seemed like a new chapter for Murray. He received twice on the Korn Ferry Tour, incomes again his PGA Tour card for 2024 — and punctuated that accomplishment by successful in his first begin again as a Tour member in Hawaii.
On the Sony Open, he leveled with reporters on his previous struggles and his outlook on life.
“I’ve clearly been vocal concerning the alcohol use prior to now. I’m over eight months sober now,” he mentioned at Waialae that week. “I’ve a stupendous fiancée that I like a lot and who’s so supportive of me, and my dad and mom are so supportive of me. My caddie, Jay [Green], is certainly one of my largest cheerleaders. Simply makes every part really easy once I obtained out right here contained in the ropes when everyone seems to be simply in my circle simply actually pulling for me.”
After the win, Murray had posted some up and down finishes on the PGA Tour; he’d missed 4 cuts this season but additionally ranked thirty eighth within the FedEx Cup standings, a profession greatest. In his final two begins, he completed T10 on the Wells Fargo Championship and made the reduce on the PGA Championship — simply his fifth profession main — capturing 67 on Sunday at Valhalla to complete T43.
He opened with a two-under 68 at Colonial for this week’s Charles Schwab Problem however was 5 over for his second spherical after making three straight bogeys earlier than telling his taking part in companions he was withdrawing. Murray was only one off the eventual cutline when he determined to withdraw.
“It’s completely laborious to wrap my thoughts round,” CBS Analyst Trevor Immelman, a PGA Tour member, mentioned because the community started its third spherical protection of the Charles Schwab. “Simply such a tragic, unhappy day for the PGA Tour membership. His fellow opponents are on the market, nonetheless taking part in proper now. They’re going to be studying this as they’re ending their rounds. Attempting to grasp this a little bit higher.
“Gosh, what a troublesome second that is. What a troublesome day that is.”
In keeping with CBS Sports activities’ Jim Nantz, the PGA Tour did supply to postpone play in Fort Price, however the household declined.
Jack Hirsh
Golf.com Editor
Jack Hirsh is an assistant editor at GOLF. A Pennsylvania native, Jack is a 2020 graduate of Penn State College, incomes levels in broadcast journalism and political science. He was captain of his highschool golf group and lately returned to this system to function head coach. Jack additionally nonetheless *tries* to stay aggressive in native amateurs. Earlier than becoming a member of GOLF, Jack spent two years working at a TV station in Bend, Oregon, primarily as a Multimedia Journalist/reporter, but additionally producing, anchoring and even presenting the climate. He may be reached at [email protected].