The parents of the late PGA Tour star Grayson Murray have spoken of the “nightmare” of his tragic death by suicide.
In a statement, Eric and Terry Murray asked golf fans to “please honour Grayson by being kind to one another.”
“We have spent the last 24 hours trying to come to terms with the fact that our son is gone. It’s surreal that we not only have to admit it to ourselves but that we also have to acknowledge it to the world,” they wrote. “It’s a nightmare.
“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.”
Thanking the PGA Tour “and the entire world of golf for the outpouring of support,” they added: “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.”
Murray (30), who had spoken openly about his battles with addiction and mental health issues, played in the Charles Schwab Challenge in Texas but withdrew with two holes of Friday’s second round remaining, citing illness.
Players wore red and black ribbons in his honour in last night’s final round, the colours of his beloved Carolina Hurricanes.
Meanwhile, Spain’s Nacho Elvira had enough with a level par 71 to win the Soudal Open in Belgium and his second DP World Tour title.
Elvira quickly extended his four-shot overnight lead to five but only breathed a sigh of relief when playing partner Niklas Nørgaard missed a 12-footer for birdie on the 18th to force a playoff.
The Dane tied for second with Frenchman Romain Langasque and home favourite Thomas Pieters, a shot behind the Spaniard.
Conor Purcell made five birdies in a 70 to finish tied for 61st on four under.
In the Danish Challenge, Norway’s Andreas Halvorsen shot a one-under 71 to win by three shots on 19 under with Gary Hurley 66th on one under, also after a 71.
In the KitchenAid Senior PGA Championship, LIV Golf’s Richard Bland closed with a blistering eight-under 63 to win by three shots from Australian Richard Green on 17-under-par at Harbor Shores in Michigan
Padraig Harrington shot 67 to share 17th on five under with Darren Clarke tied 21st on four under after a 69 and Paul McGinley 65th on seven-over after a 73.
In the weather-reduced Brabazon Trophy at Hollinwell, Royal Dublin’s Hugh Foley tied for tenth, four shots behind Scot Gregor Graham.
With a high probability of thunder and lightening during the day England Golf took the early decision to cancel Round 4 and to play round three over over 12 holes. The reduction to 12 holes being made due to the Rules of Golf not permitting the number of holes in a round to be reduced once it has commenced.
The event was dogged by bad weather from the start. The competition traditionally consists of 72 holes of stroke play golf with 18 holes being played over four days. A 36 hole cut reduces the field to the leading 60 competitors and ties for the final two rounds.
However, due to heavy rain on Wednesday 22nd May, which forced the official practice day to be abandoned, the format this year has been changed. The practice round was played on Thursday 23rd, Round 1 on Friday 24th and Round 2 on Saturday 25th. A revised cut, taking in only the leading 36 players and ties, will then be made before the final two rounds are played on Sunday 26th.
