Professional Golfer Grayson Murray Revealed To Have Died By Suicide

On Sunday, one day after news broke that he had passed away, the family of professional golfer Grayson Murray revealed that the two-time PGA Tour winner had died by suicide.

“We have spent the last 24 hours trying to come to terms with the fact that our son is gone,” his parents, Eric and Terry Murray, said in a statement. “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 no answers,” Eric and Terry Murray’s statement continued. “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 will be missed.”

“We would like to thank the PGA Tour and the entire world of golf for the outpouring of support,” the statement said. “Life wasn’t always easy for Grayson, and although he took his own life, we know he rests peacefully now.

“Please respect our privacy as we work through this incredible tragedy, and please honor Grayson by being kind to one another. If that becomes his legacy, we could ask for nothing else. Thank you.”

This week, Murray had been participating in the Charles Schwab Challenge, playing in a few rounds before unexpectedly withdrawing due to feeling ill. 

News of his death broke on Saturday when another round of the tournament was set to begin. While the PGA Tour commissioners offered to halt the tournament out of respect for Murray, his family asked them to continue play. 

“I reached out to Grayson’s parents to offer our deepest condolences, and during that conversation, they asked that we continue with tournament play,” said PGA Tour Commissioner Jay Monahan in a statement. “They were adamant that Grayson would want us to do so. As difficult as it will be, we want to respect their wishes.”

Murray had previously been open about his struggle with depression and alcoholism, however, he had long worked to overcome that struggle. In January, when he won the Sony Open, he revealed that he had been sober for 8 months. 

Prior to this, Murray had won the 2017 Barbasol Championship as a 22-year-old rookie. He said that this victory was the “best thing and worst thing” for his career and life.

“Best thing and worst thing that ever happened to me was winning my rookie year but also feeling like I was invincible,” he said in January, per NBC Sports, later detailing that he would often drink excessively at tournaments during this time.

After winning the Open, Murray seemed in good spirits, saying that he had rediscovered his faith and was engaged to be married to Christiana Ritchie, whom he met in 2021.

“I wouldn’t trade anything,” Murray said at the time, per NBC. “I have a beautiful fiancée. I have beautiful parents. I have beautiful nephews, siblings. 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 think this is just the start of something really special.”

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