Grayson Murray, two-time PGA Tour winner who lived in Jupiter, dead at 30 by suicide
PGA Tour pro Grayson Murray, who had moved to Jupiter with his fiancée, Christiana Ritchie, died by suicide Saturday, one day after he withdrew from the Charles Schwab Cup Challenge in Fort Worth, Texas.
Murray, a two-time PGA Tour winner, was 30. The PGA Tour posted a statement Sunday on X from the Murray family, indicating the golfer killed himself Saturday morning."We would like to thank the PGA Tour and the entire world of golf for the outpouring of support," Eric and Terry Murray said. "Life wasn't always easy for Grayson, and although he took his own life, we know he rests peacefully now."
The PGA Tour considered postponing Sunday's final round at the Charles Schwab Challenge, but his parents insisted the tournament continue as scheduled, saying it was what their son would have wanted.
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Murray, who was born and raised in Raleigh, North Carolina, attended Wake Forest, East Carolina and Arizona State where he played golf before turning pro. He was a member of Dye Preserve Golf Club in Jupiter. He was one of eight members of the club who played May 16-19 in the PGA Championship in Louisville, Kentucky. He finished tied for 43rd at Valhalla.
The news of his death was met with shock and sadness around the golf world.
“I am at a loss for words,” PGA Tour Commissioner Jay Monahan said. “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.”
In 2021, Murray called out the PGA Tour on social media, saying he hadn’t been given enough support through bouts with alcoholism and mental health challenges. In Murray's post, he did not blame the tour for his issues but said he never once had a request answered by the commissioner or the Player Advisory Council.
Monahan said Saturday he called Murray "right away" after the post.
“Over the last several years, I spent a lot of time with him because I wanted to understand what we could do in his estimation, in his opinion, to help everybody else out here," Monahan said after arriving at Colonial Country Club following the news.
"We’ve made a number of advancements along those lines and, you know, it’s become a real point of focus and emphasis. We’re proud of the programs we have in place to support our players, to support everybody out here."
PGA Tour players reach out on social media
Several players reached out to Murray after his post.
"Speechless to hear about Grayson," Tequesta's Justin Thomas posted Saturday. "Guy had been through so many ups and downs to get where he was. I hurt so much for his family and the people closest to him. My condolences and deepest sympathies."
Jupiter's Luke Donald wrote on social media he recently gave Murray advice on how to play Augusta National.
"Truly devastating news that Grayson Murray has passed away," he wrote. "He asked me for some advice on how to play Augusta a few months ago, last week I saw him at the PGA Championship, life truly is precious. My condolences and prayers to his whole family that they may find some peace."
Murray and Ritchie met in 2021 at the American Express tournament in Palm Springs, California. He proposed to her in December 2023 at a country club in Nashville. “Easiest decision of my life," he wrote on his Instagram. "I love you so much, babe. I can’t wait to spend the rest of my life with you. God is so Great.”
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They planned to get married in Pinehurst, North Carolina.
Murray, ranked No. 58 in the world, played in the former Honda Classic at PGA National from 2017 to 2023. He did not play this year, the first as the renamed Cognizant Classic in the Palm Beaches. In 2020, he made a hole-in-one at the 17th hole, part of the famed Bear Trap. He used a pitching wedge on the 151-yard hole.
At the time, it was a fourth career ace for Murray.
You are not alone. Help is available for people experiencing domestic violence or suicidal thoughts. Call the Palm Beach County Victim Services 24-hour helpline at 561-833-7273, or the 24-hour Suicide and Crisis Lifeline at 988.
Tom D'Angelo is a senior sports columnist and golf writer for The Palm Beach Post. He can be reached at tdangelo@pbpost.com.
This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Grayson Murray, two-time PGA Tour winner who lived in Jupiter, dead at 30
