The death of Grayson Murray

One of golf’s feel-good stories of 2024 became its most tragic when Grayson Murray died in May, a day after he withdrew due to illness during the second round of the Charles Schwab Challenge.

The 30-year-old Murray, who won the Sony Open in January for his second career PGA Tour victory, was found dead at his home in Florida on May 25, according to a statement from Palm Beach Gardens police. According to his parents, he took his own life. Police said there was no apparent foul play.

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The golfer withdrew after 16 holes of the second round at Colonial Country Club and told his playing partner Peter Malnati that he was ill. He had spoken openly about his struggles with alcohol addiction earlier this year and expressed optimism about trying to help others. He had apparently turned his life around, gotten engaged and succeeded after several years of difficulty.

The win in Hawaii secured Murray a spot in the Masters and he made the cut at the PGA Championship, played the weekend before his death. He was exempt for the upcoming US Open and had moved into the top 60 in the official world golf rankings.

Scottie Scheffler spoke at a memorial service the week of the Memorial Tournament, two weeks after Murray’s death.

“We are not designed to live this life alone,” Scheffler told a gathering of players, officials and spectators. “We all carry a lot more baggage than we admit – myself especially.”

“I think we all wish we could have done more for him, we could have done it differently,” Scheffler added. “You know, your mind just thinks about what you could have done to prevent this.”

In 2023, Murray won the developmental Korn Ferry Tour twice, securing his PGA Tour card for the 2024 season. He won his first event, the Sony, in Honolulu by hitting a 40-footer on the final green and defeated Keegan Bradley and Ben An.

Murray finished 10th at the Wells Fargo Championship, 51st at the Masters and 43rd at the PGA Championship.