HONOLULU – The sun was shining brightly at 8 a.m. as PGA Tour members, caddies, staff and media gathered with Grayson Murray’s family behind the 16th green and 17th tee at Waialae Country Club for a Hawaiian blessing and ceremony to remember their compatriot, who was supposed to defend his title this week.
“Is the flag at half-mast for Grayson or (the US president) Jimmy Carter” asked one player.
A year ago, Murray had remarkable ups and downs, not far from the ceremony, at the par-3 17th.thstuck at 3 feet in the end to join the playoff with Ben An and Keegan Bradley and raised his fist when his 39-foot birdie putt fell in to win him the Sony Open in Hawaii. Four months later, Murray committed suicide during the week of the Charles Schwab Challenge after withdrawing from the event. He was 30 years old.
“Bow your heads,” said Corbett Kalama, president of the charity Friends of Hawaii, who sang a Hawaiian song in Grayson’s memory.
PGA Tour Commissioner Jay Monahan took off his moccasins and let the waves lap his feet on the beach while tossing flowers into the water. Billy Horschel, Gary Woodland and Webb Simpson were among the heavy-hearted Tour pros who took part in the ceremony that Simpson called an “outpouring of love.”
“It was a great turnout, wasn’t it?” said Simpson, who added that she missed Grayson “tremendously.” “
Simpson first met Grayson when he was eight or nine years old and their mutual swing coach, Ted Kiegel, told him, “Hey, this kid is really good.”
Murray, born in Raleigh, North Carolina, continued to improve. He won individual and team state high school titles. He won the Callaway Junior Championships in San Diego three years in a row, tying his idol, Tiger Woods. Woods sent a letter to Murray on his 15thth birthday by congratulating him on his achievements. He has won five times on the Korn Ferry Tour and PGA Tour, and has won spoke openly about his experiences with alcoholism, anxiety and depression before his death. Jay Green, who was Grayson’s caddy during his victory, wore the Rolex watch his boss gave him to commemorate their victory in the Aloha State. He’s working for Will Gordon this week, but a flood of emotions hit Green as he returned to the scene of his biggest moment alongside Grayson. Playing 18th in regulation, Murray had 80 yards to the hole and needed a birdie.
“I told him, ‘Show me something here.’ He hits it from 3 feet and drives it in,” Green recalled. “We’re scoring before the playoffs start and I’m as nervous as can be and he comes out and says, ‘We’re winning this game.’ That determination in his eyes and that conviction in his voice, I will never forget. When he decided to do something, he would do it.”
Time passes and most of us move on, but for Murray’s parents, Eric and Terry, there have been countless dark days. The players lined up at the end of the ceremony and took turns giving each of Grayson’s parents a hug and paying their respects again.
“I hope this morning his parents were able to feel the love of the Tour as a family for Grayson,” Simpson said.
“This morning was so emotional,” Eric Murray said. “I was so proud of Grayson when he won the Sony. There is a lot of pain but also a lot of pride.
When asked how he would like his son to be remembered, Eric replied, “for his generosity.” He would give his shirt off his back to help anyone. We heard from so many people whose lives he touched.
“It’s like buying a car for a family he met while visiting a children’s hospital at a tournament,” Terry said. “He would never tell us the story of his gifts.”
Grayson had written notes about what type of foundation he planned to create to help those suffering like him. His parents plan to continue these efforts, with the Grayson Murray Foundationwhose mission is to raise awareness and support for mental health and substance abuse issues faced by individuals from all backgrounds. Eric Murray said the foundation is on the ground floor and just received its 501-C3 status last week.
“We’re going to keep his passion alive,” Eric said.
Grayson’s spirit was alive and well Tuesday morning as in the darkness, the sun in the sky shone brightly.
This article was originally published on Golfweek: 2025-sony-open-grayson-murray-celebration-of-life
