The father of the late Grayson Murray has revealed one of the last moments they shared together before the PGA Tour pro took his own life in May at the age of 30.
In a recent Golf Digest article, Eric Murray recalled how he and his son had an emotional conversation at home in Raleigh, North Carolina, on May 5, when Murray said, “I don't want to be here anymore.”
Days after that interaction, Murray participated in the Charles Schwab Challenge in Fort Worth, Texas, but withdrew from the second round due to illness. His death was announced on May 25.
“We are devastated to learn — and saddened to share — that PGA Tour player Grayson Murray passed away this morning,” PGA Tour commissioner Jay Monahan said in a statement at the time. “I'm at a loss for words. The PGA Tour is a family, and when you lose a family member, it's never the same.
“We are grieving for Grayson and praying for the comfort of his loved ones. I reached out to Grayson's parents to offer our deepest condolences, and during that conversation, they asked us to continue playing in the tournament. They were adamant that Grayson wanted us to do so.
The golfer's mother, Eric and Terry Murray, later confirmed that the two-time PGA Tour winner had died by suicide.
“We have spent the last 24 hours trying to come to terms with the reality that our son is gone. It is surreal that we not only have to admit it to ourselves, but we also have to admit it to the world. It is a nightmare,” their May 26 statement said.
“…Was Grayson loved? The answer is yes. By us, by his brother Cameron, his sister Erica, all of his extended family, his friends, his fellow players, and – apparently – by many of you reading this. He was He is loved and will be missed.
“We would like to thank the PGA Tour and the entire golf world for the outpouring of support. Life was not always easy for Grayson, and even though he took his own life, we know he is now resting in peace.
Murray, who has been open about his battles with depression and alcohol issues in the past, was considered a “homebody”, according to his sister Erica, who told Golf Digest: “He didn't like being on the road.”
He was a homebody and drew his energy from family and friends. Being stuck in hotel rooms, [away] “From people he could trust, they did a number for him,” she said.
Terry believes a higher power is watching her son, as Murray contacted a woman named Maggie on her way to Palm Beach after he pulled out of the Charles Schwab Challenge.
“Until the end, he was surrounded by angels who were looking for him,” she said.
For Eric, he will remember Grayson fondly as his “superhero.”
“Those weren't character flaws,” Eric said. “These demons, this affliction, were trying to destroy him. He would often say: ‘Why me, father? Why must this happen to me?’ And yet he kept going, open about everything, willing to take the blows to his reputation and image.” , realizing that it's okay as long as it helps someone in his same position.
In the wake of Murray's death, members of the golf community paid tribute, including Rory McIlroy, who noted that the heartbreaking situation “puts everything into perspective.”
“It's very sad and everyone has to remember here that we go out and do things that a lot of people can't do, but at the end of the day, we're still human and we're fragile and we're fragile,” the four-time major champion said in May. “There was a lesson for anyone: to be kind to each other.”
Before the U.S. Open in June, the USGA commemorated Murray with a plaque in the locker room in Pinehurst, North Carolina, that said: “The USGA remembers Grayson and pays tribute to his playing accomplishments that earned him his place in the 124th U.S. Open.”
The painting concluded with the phrase, “Be kind to each other.”
If you are experiencing suicidal thoughts, you can call the National Suicide Prevention Hotline 24/7 at 988 or visit SuicidePreventionLifeline.org.
