Grayson Murray dies at 30: Golf world mourns loss of PGA Tour player day after withdrawing from Charles Schwab Challenge

Dan Treacy

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Grayson Murray dies at 30: Golf world mourns loss of PGA Tour player day after withdrawing from Charles Schwab Challenge image

The PGA Tour is in mourning after shockingly losing one of its own.

Days after Xander Schauffele's long-awaited win at the PGA Championship brought the golf world together, the PGA Tour announced the death of golfer Grayson Murray at the age of 30 on Saturday. 

It comes a day after Murray withdrew from the Charles Schwab Challenge late in the second round.

Murray, who was born in Raleigh, N.C., and played at three different universities before turning professional in 2015, made the cut at the PGA Championship just a week before his death. He participated in his first Masters in April, finishing 51st. 

Here's a look at what the PGA Tour had to say about Saturday's tragic news, as well as a closer look at Murray's career.

Grayson Murray dies at 30

The PGA Tour announced Murray's passing on Saturday afternoon. He withdrew from the Charles Schwab Challenge due to an illness. 

"The PGA TOUR is a family, and when you lose a member of your family, you are never the same," commissioner Jay Monahan said in a statement. 

The PGA Tour confirmed the Charles Schwab Challenge will continue as planned, explaining that Murray's family was "adamant" about not suspending play. Monahan added that grief counselors would be present at the event.

Murray withdrew from the Charles Schwab Challenge after 16 holes on Friday, citing an illness.

What happened to Grayson Murray?

Murray's parents, Eric and Terry announced in a statement about Grayson's death that he had died by suicide. Below is the statement in full, per the PGA Tour:

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.

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. He was loved and he will be missed.

We would like to thank the PG 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.

Please respect our privacy as we work through this incredible tragedy, and please honor Grayson by being kind to one another. If that becomes his legacy, we could act for nothing else.

Thank you.

Murry's story of battling and overcoming demons was well-known before his passing. Murray admitted after earning his second PGA Tour win in January that he battled alcoholism for several years and nearly died in a scooter accident in 2022.

Murray admitted in January that he had gone through many ups and downs between both his mental health and his battle with alcoholism, nearly giving up on bettering himself, but attributed his progress to the support system he had around him.

Grayson Murray PGA Tour wins

Murray had two PGA Tour wins, with his first coming at the Barbasol Championship in July 2017 and the second coming just four months ago at the Sony Open in Hawaii.

Murray beat out An Byeong-hun and Keegan Bradley in a playoff to win in January, birdying the first playoff hole. The win marked a return to glory for Murray, who went nearly seven years between wins and spent time on the Korn Ferry Tour, picking up two wins in 2023 to put himself back on the PGA circuit. 

Murray insisted in January that his life was back on the right track, and the results on the course appeared to be trending in the right direction as a result. Murray made the cut at both the Masters and the PGA Championship over the last two months, despite limited experience in major championships entering 2024. He also finished in a tie for 10th at the Wells Fargo Championship two weeks before his death. 

Golf world mourns Grayson Murray

CBS broadcaster Jim Nantz was emotional when he shared the news of Murray's death, calling it "a sad day on the PGA Tour" and expressing his condolences to the golfer's family.

Nantz's broadcast partner, Trevor Immelman, was also visibly emotional when discussing Murray's passing.

Webb Simpson called Murray's death a "huge shock" and reminisced about Murray winning the first-ever junior Webb Simpson Challenge tournament.

Justin Thomas said in a tweet that he's "speechless" and sent his condolences to Murray's family.

Brandt Snedeker also wrote that he's "heartbroken" by Murray's loss in a post to X (formerly Twitter).

PGA Tour winner turned golf broadcaster Smylie Kaufman also mourned Murray, saying that he "was a friend to me at some of my lowest points in my career."

LIV Golfer Bubba Watson said he was "thankful" for knowing Murray in a social media post as well.

PGA Tour players wore red-and-black ribbons at the Charles Schwab Challenge to honor Murray, who often wore a ribbon during his round to honor the Carolina Hurricanes, his favorite team.

The Hurricanes posted to social media to honor him after his cause of death was announced Sunday.

Dan Treacy

Dan Treacy Photo

Dan Treacy is a content producer for Sporting News, joining in 2022 after graduating from Boston University. He founded @allsportsnews on Instagram in 2012 and has written for Lineups and Yardbarker.