Grayson Murray, a former Arizona State University golfer and two-time PGA Tour winner, passed away on Saturday at the age of 30, just one day after withdrawing from the Charles Schwab Cup Challenge at Colonial.
The circumstances surrounding his death remain unclear, leaving the PGA Tour and his management team in a state of shock and grief.
“I am at a loss for words,” said PGA Tour Commissioner Jay Monahan. “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.”
ASU’s golf team released a statement expressing their sorrow, noting that Murray “was always a friend to the coaches, players, and Sun Devil alums.”
His management company, GSE Worldwide, confirmed his death, stating, “We will hold off on commenting until we learn further details, but our heart aches for his family, his friends, and all who loved him during this very difficult time.”
Monahan personally spoke with Murray’s parents to offer condolences, and they requested that the tournament in Fort Worth, Texas, continue. Grief counselors were made available at the PGA Tour and Korn Ferry Tour event in Knoxville, Tennessee. Monahan traveled to Texas and later appeared on CBS as the third round concluded.
“To see the devastation on the faces of every player coming in is really difficult to see and really just profound,” Monahan said. “Grayson was a remarkable player, but he was a very courageous man. I’ve always loved that about him.”
Murray, who had previously struggled with alcohol and mental health issues, had turned his life around this year. He won the Sony Open by hitting a wedge to 3 feet for birdie on the final hole to get into a playoff, winning with a 40-foot putt. He also secured the Barbasol Championship in 2017.
“It was a huge shock. My heart sank,” said Webb Simpson, who learned of Murray’s death shortly before teeing off at Colonial. Simpson recalled Murray as the first winner of his junior tournament and noted they shared the same swing coach as juniors. “I just hate it so much,” Simpson added. “I’m going to miss him. I’m thankful he was in the place with his faith before this morning happened.”
Ranked No. 58 in the world, Murray recently tied for 43rd in the PGA Championship at Valhalla. He had made the cut in his Masters debut, finishing 51st, and was set to compete in the U.S. Open at Pinehurst No. 2 next month.
Growing up in North Carolina, Murray was among the nation’s most talented juniors, winning the prestigious Junior World Championship in San Diego three consecutive years and earning the Arnold Palmer Scholarship at Wake Forest. He eventually attended three colleges, ending up at Arizona State, and won as a 22-year-old PGA Tour rookie at the Barbasol Championship.
In January, Murray shared that he had been sober for eight months, was engaged, had become a Christian, and felt his best golf was ahead of him. He was appointed to the 16-member Player Advisory Council. “My story is not finished. I think it’s just beginning,” Murray said in Hawaii. “I hope I can inspire a lot of people going forward that have their own issues.”
Peter Malnati, who played with Murray at Colonial, broke down on the CBS telecast, saying, “It’s a huge loss for all of us on the PGA Tour. As much as we want to beat each other, we’re one big family, and we lost one today. It’s terrible.”
