CNN
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PGA Tour golfer Grayson Murray has died, one day after withdrawing from the Charles Schwab Challenge in Fort Worth, Texas, according to PGA Tour officials.
The cause of death is unknown. He was 30 years old.
“We are heartbroken to learn that PGA Tour player Grayson Murray passed away this morning and are heartbroken to share that news. There are no words to describe it,” PGA Tour Commissioner Jay Monahan said. In a statement on Saturday.
Murray, a two-time PGA Tour winner, withdrew from the tournament with two holes remaining in the second round on Friday, citing illness.
Earlier this year, Murray ended a six-and-a-half-year winless streak at the Sony Open by winning a playoff against former PGA Championship winner Keegan Bradley and South Korea’s Ahn Byung-hun. Mental health and physical issues.
CNN has reached out to tournament organizers for more information.
Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images
Murray hits a shot from the 17th tee during the final round of the Sony Open in Hawaii at Waialae Country Club on January 14, 2024 in Honolulu, Hawaii.
Murray, a native of Raleigh, North Carolina, is considered one of the best junior players in the world and won the IMG Junior World Championship three times, in 2006, 2007 and 2008. At age 16, he became the second-youngest player ever to make the cut on the Korn Ferry Tour, according to the PGA Tour, and played in the 2013 U.S. Open at age 19. Additionally, he won the 2017 Barbasol Championship at just 23 years old.
“Grayson was the best. Not only was he an incredibly thoughtful and generous boss, but he was an even greater friend,” his caddie, Jay Green, said in a statement. Golf Channel’s Brentley Romine“He was someone who would truly do anything for anyone. He had the best family and my heart goes out to them. We will all miss him terribly.”
“We are saddened and heartbroken to learn of Grayson Murray’s sudden passing. Grayson was a longtime member of the GSE family and we were all shocked to hear the news this morning,” Murray’s agent, Kevin Canning, said in a statement to CNN.
Also in X’s post, former Masters winner Bubba Watson said he was “deeply saddened” to hear of Grayson’s death.
“I hugged you at the Masters and told you how proud I was of you,” he recalled. “It was a pleasure knowing you. My heartfelt condolences to his family and friends during this difficult time. He will be missed.”
Murray has been vocal about some of the issues that have plagued his golf career, including alcohol. He said he spent some time in rehab. Interview with the PGAI was also plagued by anxiety.
“The news hasn’t really sunk in yet,” world No. 1 Scottie Scheffler said after Saturday’s third round of the Charles Schwab Challenge.
“My thoughts are with his family and I’m praying fervently for all of them,” he told reporters. “I can’t imagine what a difficult time this must be. I’ve gotten to know Grayson a little better over the last six months or so and I honestly can’t put into words how sad and tragic this is, but my thoughts are with his family.”
Webb Simpson, the 2012 U.S. Open champion, also paid tribute to Murray on Saturday, saying the pair had a “long history” together.
“I first met Grayson when he was probably eight or nine years old at my local club. He was the inaugural winner of the Webb Simpson Challenge junior tournament, which I’ve hosted for 14 years,” Simpson told reporters.
“So when you get a phone call and you get news like that, at first you don’t think it’s real, but then you hear the emotion coming from your swing coach and you realise it’s real.
“But I know his mom was with us at the Wells Fargo Championship and I think we went out together. We had a great couple of days together, so I’m just really grateful that I got to spend some quality time with him before the bad news today.”
This story has been updated with additional information.