Grayson Murray
Andrew Redington/Getty Imageslate Grayson Murray He’s been honest about his own mental struggles for years, and the golfer hopes that candor will encourage others to seek help.
In 2021, Murray was suspended from the PGA Tour after being involved in an alcohol-related incident in Hawaii. “Why was I drunk?” he wrote on social media. The New York TimesMurray added, “I’m an alcoholic who hates everything about PGA Tour life and that’s my scapegoat.”
Murray revealed in January 2024 that he had been sober for months. “I struggle with comparing myself to others and having a good sense of self-worth,” Murray said. Golf Digest“There are a lot of problems. I call them problems. I think they are common problems that we all have. I got tired of fighting it alone and one day I asked for help. And that’s what changed my life.”
In May 2024, Murray withdrew from the opening round of the Charles Schwab Challenge in Fort Worth, Texas, citing illness. A few days later, his family confirmed that he had committed suicide. He was 30 years old.
“Life wasn’t always easy for Grayson and although he took his own life, we know he is now at peace,” his parents, Eric and Terry, wrote in a statement released by the PGA at the time, concluding with a message to fans: “Please honor Grayson by being kind to one another. If that is his legacy, we couldn’t ask for more.”
To read more of Murray’s candid remarks, keep scrolling.
The battle for resources
In 2021, Murray criticized the PGA Tour for not providing resources for his mental health. In a now-deleted post via X, Murray wrote, “The PGA Tour didn’t force me to drink, but the PGA Tour didn’t give me any help.”
After his death in May 2024, the PGA Tour Commissioner Jay Monahan At the press conference, he spoke about Murray’s past comments and the lasting legacy he leaves behind.
“When Grayson told me, I called him right away,” Monahan said in the footage shared via X. “I just wanted to know what, in his view, in his opinion, he could do to help everybody else out here.”
He continued, “We’ve made a lot of progress in that direction and it’s become a real focus and emphasis. We’re very proud of the programs we’ve put in place to support our players and everyone here.”
Monahan said Murray was “very open and candid” with him. “All he said was that he had peace in his life,” he said, referring to Murray’s comments after winning the Sony Open. “I was inspired by that personally. I was inspired by that as a leader on the tour.”
Peace in the ropes
After winning the Sony Open in January 2024, Murray spoke to reporters about his struggles.
“It’s not easy,” Murray said in an interview after his victory. “So many times I wanted to give up. I wanted to give up on myself. I wanted to give up on golf. I wanted to give up on life. But you just hang in there. And when you get tired of fighting, you get somebody else to fight for you.”
Murray added that he hopes people watching will take “a little inspiration” from him. “Even if I can just help one person, that’ll be enough,” he said.
The romance between the late professional golfer Grayson Murray and his fiancée Christiana Ritchie began with a shared passion for faith. “I grew up in church, and my family was religious,” Murray said. [are] I am a strong Christian. I think I neglected that part of my life for a while, but then I met my fiancé and how our lives have changed over the years. […]
At the press conference, Murray had kind words for his fiancée, Christiana Richieand those on his side as well.
“I have a beautiful fiancé now who I love so much and who supports me so much,” he told the PGA Tour’s official X account. “When I step inside the ropes, it all becomes so much easier because everyone is so supportive of me. When I’m having a hard day, everyone is there for me, and I have my hard days too, but right now when I’m inside the ropes, I feel so much more at ease.”
Murray also noted that there are days when he “didn’t want to get out of bed,” adding, “I thought I was a failure. I always thought I was a failure. I thought I had so much talent and I was just wasting it. It was a terrible situation, but like I said before, you have to be courageous. You have to be willing to keep going. Amazingly, I did and here I am now. I’m so blessed and grateful.”
“It’s okay not to be okay.”
Murray noted that his own mental health journey has not only impacted himself, but those around him.
“My parents have basically been living hell for the last six years while I’ve been battling mental health issues,” he said in an Instagram video from the Korn Ferry Tour’s AdventHealth Championship in May 2023. “It’s not easy for me and the people around me who love me, they don’t want to see me down and they’ve been my biggest supporters.”
“Everyone has their own struggles,” Murray said, but added that “some people can hide it sometimes and get away with it,” while others can’t.
“I think society today has become more accepting of the idea that it’s okay to not be okay, and I’ve embraced that mindset,” he said.[I’m] I’m not ashamed of going through depression or anxiety. I’ve even helped people through social media. People message me and I think that’s just a part of me. [what] I can use my platform to continue to contribute to that kind of thing.”
If you thought watching golf was entertaining, take a dramatic swing off the course. In the middle of the 2024 PGA Championship at Valhalla Golf Course in Louisville, Kentucky, sports fans were surprised to learn that player Scottie Scheffler was detained just hours before the start of the second round of the tournament. […]
Getting help
Murray spoke out about his struggles on social media in July 2017. “Everyone has their own battles every day. Some people hide them well, some don’t. The first step to getting help is admitting that you need help,” he wrote at the time. “Luckily, I admitted I needed help for my depression and anxiety years ago and it saved my life. It’s something I battle every day. It doesn’t go away and it never will. But there are ways to control it.”
He continued, “I am fortunate to have built a supportive team around me that helps me push myself every day. I know setbacks are likely, but it’s a challenge I accept. I just wanted to let you all know, I don’t normally post like this, but if you’re struggling or know someone who is, I’m here to help.”
If you or someone you know is suffering or in crisis, help is available: call or text 988 or chat at 988lifeline.org.
