Grayson Murray, a two-time champion, . on Friday due to illness, with only two holes left in his second round. The heartbreaking news of his death was confirmed shortly after.
The golfer from Raleigh, North Carolina, was just 30 years old. Murray kicked off 2024 with an unforgettable playoff win at the Sony Open in Hawaii. He made a on the 18th hole of his final round to force a playoff, ultimately clinching the victory with a 40-foot birdie putt against Byeong Hun An and Keegan Bradley.
This win marked the end of a seven-year wait for PGA Tour success. The American golfer won three consecutive Callaway Junior World Championships between 2006 and 2008 and was the top-ranked player in his age group before playing for Wake Forest University, East Carolina University, and Arizona State University. After receiving a sponsor's exemption for the Korn Ferry Tour event, Murray finished in the top 10 at the 2016 Rex Hospital Open, which qualified him for the next event.
Another top-10 finish at the BMW Charity Open propelled his professional career forward. Murray had a breakout season in 2016, culminating in a win at the Nationwide Children's Hospital Championship. He finished second on the Korn Ferry Tour money list and secured full status on the PGA Tour for the 2017 season.
The American golfer quickly made a name for himself among golf's elite on the PGA Tour. As a 24-year-old rookie, Murray clinched the 2017 Barbasol Championship, a victory that guaranteed him a two-year exemptio.
