PGA Tour winner Grayson Murray dies aged 30

PGA Tour winner Grayson Murray has died, commissioner Jay Monahan has confirmed.

The 30-year-old, who won his second title at the Sony Open in Hawaii in January, passed away on Saturday. His parents have now revealed he took his own life.

He had been at Colonial this week at the Charles Schwab Challenge, in Texas, but withdrew during his second round following an opening 68, with PGA Tour Communications citing illness.

“We were devastated to learn – and are heartbroken to share – that PGA Tour player Grayson Murray passed away this morning. I am at a loss for words,” Monahan said.

“The PGA Tour is a family, and when you lose a member of your family, you are never the same. We mourn Grayson and pray for comfort for his loved ones.

“I reached out to Grayson’s parents to offer our deepest condolences, and during that conversation, they asked that we continue with tournament play.

“They were adamant that Grayson would want us to do so. As difficult as it will be, we want to respect their wishes.”

The PGA Tour said grief counsellors would be available at venues and that Monahan was en route to the Charles Schwab Challenge. They added that “more information will be shared when it is available”.

On Sunday, the PGA Tour posted a statement on behalf of Eric and Terry Murray, Grayson’s parents who confirmed he had taken his own life.

“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 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.”

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Grayson Murray dies at 30: Phenomenal junior talent became PGA Tour winner

Murray was a standout junior player, winning both team and individual state titles while at Leesville Road High School. He won the Callaway Junior Championships three times in a row from 2006 to 2008.

Having played in the US Open, 11 years ago, as an amateur, he burst onto the professional scene in 2016 after finishing in the top 10 in the Rex Hospital Open. He’d got into the event on a sponsor’s exemption and followed that with another top 10 finish in the BMW Charity Open.

He would win the Nationwide Children’s that year to finish second on the Korn Ferry Tour money list. His first PGA Tour victory came in his rookie season with a one-shot triumph at the 2017 Barbasol Championship.

Murray battled alcohol addiction and depression in the following years, but had enjoyed a resurgence when winning twice on the Korn Ferry Tour in 2023 to regain his PGA Tour card.

Then at Wai’alae, at the start of this year, he won in dramatic fashion – holing a 40-foot birdie putt in the first hole of a playoff with Byeong Hun An and Keegan Bradley.

Following that victory, he said: “Everyone in my life right now who is close to me who has been through the struggles with me, it’s all a team effort. I’m not sitting here – I am sitting here alone, but all of them are part of this. I think this is just the start of something really special.”

On Murray’s Arizona State University profile, it says the course he hadn’t played before and would most want to was Augusta National. In April, he made his Masters debut, making the cut to finish in 51st place.

Players pay tribute to Grayson Murray

Two-time Masters champion Bubba Watson paid tribute to Murray whom he met up with at this year’s event in Georgia…

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Murray’s caddie Jay Green, sending a text to Golf Channel writer Brentley Romine and released through the latter’s X account, said: “Grayson was the absolute best. Not only was he an incredible, thoughtful and generous boss, he was an even better friend.

“He would truly do anything for anyone. He has the best family, and my heart goes out to them. We will all miss him deeply.”

Other tributes quickly followed. European Ryder Cup captain Luke Donald, also on X, said: “Truly devastating news that Grayson Murray has passed away. He asked me for some advice on how to play Augusta a few months ago, last week I saw him at the PGA Championship, life truly is precious.

“My condolences and prayers to his whole family that they may find some peace.”

Webb Simpson had some words for Murray, while recent tour winner Peter Malnati struggled to express his thoughts through his emotions…

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Former US Open champion Justin Rose said: “I had the opportunity to spend a few rounds of golf alongside Grayson in recent weeks at Hilton Head, Quail Hollow and Valhalla,” he said. “I will always remember that and use it to remind myself that you never know what challenges people have going on in their lives and how they may be internalising things. RIP Grayson and love and strength to your family and friends.”

World No.1 and reigning Masters champion Scottie Scheffler added: “I’m thinking about his family and praying hard for all of them. I can’t imagine how difficult of a time this is. I got to know Grayson a bit better over the last six months or so and, yeah, really just, there’s not really a way to put into words how sad and tragic it is, but I’m thinking about his family.”

Two-time PGA champion Justin Thomas also paid tribute to Murray: “Speechless to hear about Grayson. Guy had been through so many ups and downs to get where he was. I hurt so much for his family and the people closest to him. My condolences and deepest sympathies.”

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