PGA Tour winner Grayson Murray dead at 30

The PGA Tour suffered a sudden and unexpected loss on Saturday.

In a letter to the PGA Tour membership, Commissioner Jay Monahan announced that Grayson Murray, a two-time winner who won earlier this season at the Sony Open in January, had passed away Saturday morning. He was 30 years old.

Murray was in the field at this week’s Charles Schwab Challenge in Fort Worth, Texas, but withdrew after the 16th hole of his second round, citing illness.

Here’s Monahan’s statement in full:

“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.

“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. They were adamant that Grayson would want us to do so. As difficult as it will be, we want to respect their wishes.

“The PGA Tour has grief counselors available at both tournament sites, as well as virtually for those not in the field. I am en route to Ft. Worth and will share more information when we can.”

Murray, whose other PGA Tour victory came seven years ago at the 2017 Barbasol Championship, was open about his struggles with substance abuse disorder throughout his professional career. He took time away from the game in 2021 after entering a treatment facility for help with alcohol. His 2022 season was also interrupted as he dealt with the challenges of sobriety.

But 2023 and early 2024 seemed like a new chapter for Murray. He won twice on the Korn Ferry Tour, earning back his PGA Tour card for 2024 — and punctuated that accomplishment by winning in his first start back as a Tour member in Hawaii.

At the Sony Open, he leveled with reporters on his past struggles and his outlook on life.

“I’ve obviously been vocal about the alcohol use in the past. I’m over eight months sober now,” he said at Waialae that week. “I have a beautiful fiancée that I love so much and who is so supportive of me, and my parents are so supportive of me. My caddie, Jay [Green], is one of my biggest cheerleaders. Just makes everything so easy when I got out here inside the ropes when everyone is just in my circle just really pulling for me.”

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After the win, Murray had posted some up and down finishes on the PGA Tour; he’d missed four cuts this season but also ranked 38th in the FedEx Cup standings, a career best. In his last two starts, he finished T10 at the Wells Fargo Championship and made the cut at the PGA Championship — just his fifth career major — shooting 67 on Sunday at Valhalla to finish T43.

He opened with a two-under 68 at Colonial for this week’s Charles Schwab Challenge but was five over for his second round after making three straight bogeys before telling his playing partners he was withdrawing. Murray was just one off the eventual cutline when he decided to withdraw.

“It’s absolutely hard to wrap my mind around,” CBS Analyst Trevor Immelman, a PGA Tour member, said as the network began its third round coverage of the Charles Schwab. “Just such a sad, sad day for the PGA Tour membership. His fellow competitors are out there, still playing right now. They’re going to be learning this as they are finishing their rounds. Trying to understand this a little better.

“Gosh, what a tough moment this is. What a tough day this is.”

According to CBS Sports’ Jim Nantz, the PGA Tour did offer to postpone play in Fort Worth, but the family declined.