Golfer Grayson Murray Passes Away Unexpectedly Just Hours After Withdrawing From Tournament

On Saturday, the PGA Tour announced that golfer Grayson Murray passed away unexpectedly, just hours after withdrawing from the Charles Schwab Challenge. He was 30 years old.

Murray played 16 holes in the second round of the challenge, but withdrew due to an “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,” PGA Tour commissioner Jay Monahan said in a statement on X. “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,” Monahan added. “They were adamant that Grayson would want us to do so. As difficult as it will be, we want to respect their wishes.”

CBS Sports reported that Murray had battled anxiety, depression, and alcohol abuse throughout his career, but he said in January that he had been sober since early 2023. 

He had made a significant impact in the sport at a young age, having been the second-youngest golfer to play on the Korn Ferry Tour, while he was just 16 years old. Murray also won the 2017 Barbasol Championship, and won the Sony Open earlier this year.

CBS’ broadcast of the Charles Schwab Challenge opened with CBS commentator Jim Nantz announced Murray’s death, reiterating that the PGA Tour offered to “stop play,” for the sake of Murray’s family. the tour has provided grievance counselors for his family and friends. 

“The family was, again, adamant that Grayson — and the family — wants the tournament to go on,” Nantz said. “Grayson Murray gone way too soon at the age of 30. It’s a sad day on the PGA Tour.”

In the last years of his life, Murray was open about his struggles, saying that his faith and his fiancee helped him battle to get sober. 

“It took me a long time to get to this point,” he said in January. “… 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.”

“People who don’t know me, I’ll have to show it through my actions, and they’ll get back on Grayson’s side,” he added. “My demeanor is so much better. It’s really a lot of fun now. I really don’t live and die by a golf shot anymore. I’m not going to sit here and say it’s going to be all glory and roses, but it’s going to be a lot better.”

Murray’s cause of death has not yet been released.

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