Grayson Murray death: What to know of PGA, Arizona State golfer who passed away at 30

Editor's note: This story has been updated with a statement from Grayson Murray's parents confirming his cause of death.

The golf world is reeling from tragedy this weekend after it was announced that PGA Tour player Grayson Murray died on Saturday. He was just 30 years old.

Murray had withdrawn Friday from the second round of the Charles Schwab Challenge at Colonial in Fort Worth, Texas with what was described by the PGA Tour as an illness.

A Raleigh, North Carolina native, Murray finished his college golf career at Arizona State. Even before arriving in Tempe, he had displayed prodigious talent, winning the Junior World Championship in San Diego three consecutive years and becoming the youngest player ever to make the cut at a Korn Ferry Tour event when he was 16 years old. At 19 years old, he competed in the 2013 U.S. Open at Merion Golf Club in Haverford Township, Pennsylvania as an amateur.

REQUIRED READING: PGA Tour star Grayson Murray dead at 30

Murray had been admirably open about his struggles with depression and alcohol consumption, both of which he discussed after winning at the Sony Open in January.

“I would drink during tournament weeks," Murray said. "It was my outlet. I thought I was invincible coming out here as a 22-year-old, winning as a rookie, played three days hungover when I won. Best thing and worst thing that ever happened to me was winning my rookie year, but also feeling like I was invincible.

"It took me a long time to get to this point. That was seven years ago, over seven years ago. I'm a different man now. I would not be in this position right now today if I didn't put that drink down eight months ago."

On Sunday, Grayson Murray's parents, Eric and Terry Murray, released a statement confirming he took his own life.

Here’s more on Murray, his life and career:

Grayson Murray PGA Tour career

After his U.S. Open appearance in 2013, Murray began competing in PGA Tour events in 2016, taking part in what was then known as the Safeway Open just two weeks after his 23rd birthday. He didn’t officially join the tour until 2017.

Over the course of his career, Murray earned two PGA Tour victories, winning the 2017 Barbasol Championship and the 2024 Sony Open. He picked up the latter of those two wins in dramatic fashion, hitting a wedge to within 3 feet of the hole for birdie on the final hole to force a playoff with Keegan Bradley and Ben An. He won the tournament in the playoff by sinking a 39-foot putt.

Murray had three top-five and 10 top-10 finishes, earned $6,277,049 in PGA Tour winnings during that time.

Those achievements came with occasional struggles.

The PGA Tour placed Murray on probation three years ago for an incident at a hotel bar in Hawaii. Murray later posted on X, the social media platform formerly known as Twitter, saying, “Why was I drunk? Because I’m a f—ing alcoholic that hates everything to do with the PGA Tour life and that’s my scapegoat.” He went on to say that the PGA Tour didn’t provide him with the proper help he needed, a claim that the tour denied.

A run of poor performances caused him to lose his PGA Tour card for the 2023 season, but he improved his game on the Korn Ferry Tour, on which he won two tournaments and eventually earned his PGA Tour card back for the 2024 season.

Murray credited his turnaround to a renewed sense of faith and the supportive presence of his fiancée, Christiana Ritchie, whom he met at The American Express Tournament in 2021.

In addition to his victory at the Sony Open, he finished in the top 10 at the Wells Fargo Championship in May and in the top 25 at the Arnold Palmer Invitational in March. He was 51st at the Masters and tied for 43rd at last week’s PGA Championship, the latter of which would ultimately be his final full tournament.

At the time of his death, Murray was 58th in the Official World Golf Ranking.

"My story is not finished,” he said in January after his win at the Sony Open. “I think it's just beginning. I hope I can inspire a lot of people going forward that have their own issues."

REQUIRED READING: Arizona State athletic department's $300 million debt 'eliminated' in restructuring

Grayson Murray college

Murray began his college career at Wake Forest, where he played the fall season in 2012 before transferring to East Carolina for the spring semester. From there, he completed his college career at Arizona State, where he competed until turning pro.

PGA statement on Grayson Murray death

The PGA Tour and commissioner Jay Monahan released a statement Saturday confirming Murray’s death. The statement read:

"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."

If you or someone you know needs help, the national suicide and crisis lifeline in the U.S. is available by calling or texting 988. There is also an online chat at 988lifeline.org.

This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Grayson Murray death: What to know of PGA golfer, Arizona State alum