Grayson Murray’s sudden passing on Saturday rocked the golf world.
His mother and father, Eric and Terry Murray, issued a statement through the PGA Tour on Sunday which detailed his cause of death.
“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,” Murray’s parents said.
Fellow PGA Tour players sent their condolences to him and his family as they began to process the tragic news. A dark cloud sat over professional golf Saturday and continues to.
It is hard to grasp what his parents are going through right now, but they found a way to put together these words as the tragedy remains fresh on everyone’s minds.
“We have so many questions that have no 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.”
“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.”
A statement below from Grayson’s parents, Eric and Terry Murray.
If you are experiencing a mental health crisis, please call the national suicide and crisis lifeline in the United States at 988 or visit their website at https://t.co/j0traBx8ia. pic.twitter.com/wPsaYMrWrH
— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) May 26, 2024
Murray played on Thursday in Fort Worth at the Charles Schwab Challenge but withdrew with two holes left on Friday due to an illness.
The news broke Saturday afternoon when PGA Tour commissioner Jay Monahan released a statement.
“I am at a loss for words,” PGA Tour commissioner Jay Monahan said in a statement. “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.”
Monahan did not shut the tournament down because Murray’s parents asked for it to continue because that is what their son would have wanted. The commissioner stated grief counselors would be at the PGA Tour and Korn Ferry Tour event this week.
Murray struggled with anxiety and depression throughout his career. He also dealt with alcohol issues in the past. However, when he won the Sony Open in Hawaii this past January, his life seemed like it was headed in the right direction.
At the time, Murray noted he had been sober for eight months. He also spoke openly about his struggles off the golf course and his newfound faith.
Murray’s parents issued a powerful message to the public at the end of their statement as they and the rest of the golf world grieve this loss.
“Please respect our privacy as we work through this incredible tragedy, and please honor Grayson by being kind to one another,” they said. “If that becomes his legacy, we could ask for nothing else.”
Note: If you or someone you know is struggling or in crisis, help is available. Call or text 988 to reach someone at the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline, or chat via 988lifeline.org.
Savannah Leigh Richardson is a golf staff writer for SB Nation’s Playing Through. For more golf coverage, be sure to follow us @_PlayingThrough on all major social platforms. You can also follow her on Twitter @SportsGirlSL and Instagram @savannah_leigh_sports.
