FORT WORTH, Texas — Grayson Murray, a two-time PGA Tour winner, died Saturday at the age of 30, the PGA Tour announced.
Murray withdrew Friday from the Charles Schwab Challenge at Colonial Country Club in Fort Worth this weekend.
Murray's parents in a statement released through the PGA Tour on Sunday confirmed that Murray died by suicide.
"We have spent the last 24 hours trying to come to terms with the fact that our son is gone," Eric and Terry Murray said. "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."
Their statement continued:
"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 PGA 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."
Tour officials around 2 p.m. Saturday announced Murray's death, as the third round of the Charles Schwab Challenge was in progress in Fort Worth.
"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,” PGA TOUR Commissioner Jay Monahan said in a statement.
The Charles Schwab Challenge continued Saturday at the request of Murray's family, Monahan said in a statement. Grief Counselors will be available at the PGA Tour and Korn Ferry Tour events this weekend, the statement reads.
“I reached out to Grayson’s parents to offer our deepest condolences, and during that conversation, they asked that we continue with tournament play,” Monahan said. “They were adamant that Grayson would want us to do so. As difficult as it will be, we want to respect their wishes.”
The Colonial Country Club in a statement described Grayson as a "talented golfer, but most importantly, a human being that was truly loved by many."
"The golf community is small. When one hurts, we all feel it tremendously," the statement continued. "We will all hug our loved ones tonight a little tighter and remember our friend, Grayson Murray."
At the Colonial Country Club Saturday, many people remembered Grayson’s legacy.
Monahan traveled from Florida to be in Fort Worth to be with the players and fans.
“There's a lot of people that are going to be carrying a heavy heart out at the PGA Tour,” he said. “There's a family that...is obviously devastated that we need to support.”
Several golfers also spoke on Grayson’s legacy. Some said they found out about the news right after they finished their round for the day.
“You don't think it's real at first...and you know...you hear the emotion...coming...from our swing coach and then you realize it's real,” said PGA golfer Webb Simpson, who first met Murray when he was a kid.
Golfer Peter Malnati, who was paired with Murray in the first and second rounds this week, was overcome with emotion when talking about Murray's death.
“In a time like this you realize as much as we want to beat each other as much as we want to be competitive, we really are one big family, and we lost one today,” he said.
Murray won two PGA Tour titles in his career, the first in 2017 and the second at this year’s Sony Open in Hawaii. Murray won three consecutive Callaway Junior World Championships from 2006 to 2008. He was from Raleigh, North Carolina.
If you are experiencing a mental health crisis, please call the national suicide and crisis lifeline in the United States at 988 or visit their website at 988lifeline.org.