Grayson Murray, a two-time PGA Tour winner, has passed away. His sudden and untimely death has shaken the golf community. Murray, 30, earned his way back to the top flight this season, claiming his second silverware at the 2024 Sony Open Hawaii. But four months after that second title, the PGA Tour confirmed the news of his demise.

After his win, Murray had mixed performances in the subsequent events. In a few, he missed cuts, and in others, he performed well. The 30-year-old finished at T10 in Quail Hollow, but in his last appearance at Colonial, he withdrew from the tournament citing illness. Now, in the wake of his passing, Jay Monahan, who flew to Fort Worth from the PGA Tour HQ at Ponte Vedra, 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.” 

Murray’s management company, GSE Worldwide, also refrained from sharing details. “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.” With the Charles Schwab Challenge ongoing, Monahan shared, “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.”

The PGA Tour’s official announcement didn’t divulge any details behind the tragedy. Notably, Grayson Murray had suffered from depression and alcohol addiction for some time. In 2021, the two-time PGA Tour winner tweeted that he didn’t get enough help from the Tour. His mental health struggles often jeopardized his PGA Tour plans. Grayson Murray was also put on probation on the Tour after a drunken brawl in Hawaii in 2021, for which the Monahan-led organization fined him $20,000. But Murray remarked that “the joke’s on them” because he could not pay the fine.

“Why was I drunk? Because I’m a f**king alcoholic that hates everything to do with the PGA Tour life, and that’s my scapegoat,” he said. Elaborating on his relationship with the Tour, he added, “The PGA Tour didn’t force me to drink, but the PGA Tour never gave me help. In my five years of experience being on tour, not once have I ever had a request been acknowledged by the Commissioner or the PAC (Player Advisory Council) other than ‘We will get back to you.’ I hope not only the PGA Tour steps up in the areas they need to step up but I also hope people are held accountable in their roles they serve.”

Update: Grayson Murray’s parents, Eric and Terry, put out an emotional statement via the PGA Tour’s X account. They revealed that the golfer took his own life.

Their statement read, “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.” As the PGA Tour shared this update, it also provided the U.S. mental health crisis helping number, stressing the importance of mental health in today’s world.

We can never be sure if Murray’s discontent with the PGA Tour played a part in this. However, his conversations with Jay Monahan – which the Commissioner revealed were all positive – did kickstart the Tour’s initiatives into providing struggling PGA Tour Pros with support. After Murray’s passing, Monahan announced that grief counselors would be available at PGA Tour events and Korn Ferry Tour events. 

A look into Grayson Murray’s journey of resilience

“I would drink during tournament weeks. It was my outlet,” admitted Murray in January. “I thought I was invincible coming out here as a 22-year-old, winning as a rookie, played three days hungover when I won.” Alcoholism brought depression, anxiety, and self-esteem issues with it. Murray even recounted how he considered himself a failure due to his professional career results.

He once said, “There are days where I didn’t want to get out of bed. I always looked at myself as a failure. I thought I had a lot of talent that was just a waste of talent.” Murray admitted, “I struggle with anxiety, depression. That stemmed a lot from the alcohol use. I struggle with comparing myself to others, and self-esteem. There’s a lot of issues that [are] common issues we all endure.” How did he get out of it? Well, he asked for help, and his life changed.

The golfer stopped his alcohol use in 2022 after he met with a motorcycle crash in Bermuda during the PGA Tour’s Bermuda Championship. The golfer hit the oncoming traffic and had to get 50 stitches, 25 of which were on his face. “If I didn’t have my helmet on, I probably would have died. It should have been my rock bottom, but I had to keep going. I felt like I was still invincible.”

After netting his first victory in 2017, his rookie year on Tour, Grayson Murray had to wait seven years for his second title. He enjoyed a revival at the Korn Ferry Tour last year. With two victories – the Advent Health Championship in Kansas City and the Simmons Bank Open outside of Nashville – the 30-year-old secured a PGA Tour card and bounced back with a victory at the season opener. He also revealed that he has been sober for eight months, “I’m a different man now. I would not be in this position right now today if I didn’t put that drink down eight months ago.”

His caddie, Jay Green, wrote in an official statement, “Grayson was the absolute best. Not only was he an incredible, thoughtful and generous boss, he was an even better friend. He truly would do anything for anyone. He has the best family, and my heart goes out to them. We will all miss him deeply.” Naturally, his death came as a shock for many, especially when he announced just months back, “My story is not finished. I think it’s just beginning.” 

We send our condolences to Grayson Murray’s family and friends. May he rest in peace.