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‘Be kind to one another’: Grayson Murray’s parents

Statement from Grayson Murray's parents

Source: SkySports

Grayson Murray’s parents have urged people to be “kind to one another” following the death of their son, a two-time winner on the PGA Tour.

Murray withdrew from the Charles Schwab Challenge at Fort Worth, Texas, with two holes remaining of Friday’s second round and died on Saturday morning at the age of 30.

“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 in a statement released on their behalf by the PGA Tour.

The statement was widely broadcast by sports media, including Sky Sports.

“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,” the Murrays said.

“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.

“Please respect our privacy as we work through this incredible tragedy, and please honour Grayson by being kind to one another. If that becomes his legacy, we could ask for nothing else. Thank you.”

World No.1 Scottie Scheffler had earlier led the tributes to Murray, who won the Barbasol Championship in 2017 and the Sony Open in January.

“Obviously, the news hasn’t really sunk in quite yet, but I’m thinking about his family and praying hard for all of them,” Scheffler said.

“I can’t imagine how difficult of a time this is. I got to know Grayson a bit better over the last six months or so.

“There’s not really a way to put into words how sad and tragic it is, but I’m thinking about his family.”

Murray had been open about his battles with anxiety and depression. In January, he revealed he had sought treatment in recent years for alcohol abuse but had been sober for several months.

Three years ago he posted on social media that he felt the Tour did not do enough to assist players who dealt with illnesses such as his.

“When Grayson said that, I called him right away,” PGA Tour commissioner Jay Monahan said on Saturday.

“Over the last several years I spent a lot of time with him because I wanted to understand what we could do, in his opinion, to help everybody else out here.

“I’m devastated by Grayson’s loss. The conversations I had with him, particularly the last year, I learned an awful lot from him. He was very open and transparent with me.

“We don’t know the circumstances around Grayson’s passing. My conversations with Grayson in the area of mental health … we’re always challenging ourselves to make certain that we’re on the front edge of being able to provide the support that we can for everybody out here.

“These are some of the best athletes in the world. They think they’re, in many respects, invincible.

“One of the things I think back about Grayson’s openness is he taught us all a lesson on that front and that’s something I’ll never forget.”

The Charles Schwab Challenge was won by Davis Riley, who took his first individual title on the PGA Tour at at a subdued Colonial Country Club on Sunday (US time).

“Super sad day in the golf world,” Riley told the CBS broadcast.

“My heart just goes to him and his family. There was definitely a little extra to play for today.”

Golfers and caddies wore red and black ribbons on their caps or shirts on Sunday in memory of Murray, who often wore colours of his hometown Carolina Hurricanes of the NHL for Sunday rounds.

“Obviously it was pretty difficult to come play golf,” Scheffler said.

“But like his parents said, he would have wanted the tournament to continue.”

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-with AAP

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