Peter Malnati played the first two days of this week’s Charles Schwab Challenge alongside Grayson Murray, who withdrew after 16 holes in Round 2, citing illness.
After learning of Murray’s death earlier Saturday morning, and after completing his third round at Colonial Country Club, Malnati spoke with CBS Sports’ Amanda Balionis.
“It’s a huge loss for all of us on the PGA Tour,” a shaken Malnati said. “As much as we want to beat each other, we’re one big family, and we lost one today. It’s terrible.”
PGA Tour Commissioner Jay Monahan said he learned around 11 a.m. of Murray’s death. Monahan said he spoke to Murray’s family and then flew to Ft. Worth, Texas.
Three years ago, Murray, who had publicly battled alcohol and mental health issues, posted on social media that he felt the Tour didn’t do enough to assist players who dealt with illnesses such as his.
Monahan told the assembled media at Colonial that he and Murray had since then had several positive conversations.
“When Grayson said that, I called him right away. You know, over the last several years, I spent a lot of time with him because I wanted to understand what we could do, in his estimation, in his opinion, to help everybody else out here,” Monahan said Saturday.
“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.”
In January, Murray won the Sony Open, his first PGA Tour victory in nearly seven years. Afterwards, he spoke of greater triumphs, saying he had been sober for eight months, was engaged and had become a Christian.
“You look at Grayson and you see someone who was visibly and outwardly struggling in the past, and he’s been open about it,” Malnati said. “And then you see him get his life back to a place where it’s feeling good about things … it’s so sad.”
The devastation felt by Malnati and Monahan permeated the golf community. These are just some of the reactions from those mourning the loss of the 30-year-old:
“Obviously the news hasn’t really sunk in quite yet, but I’m thinking about his family and praying hard for all of them. 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 and, yeah, really just, there’s not really a way to put into words how sad and tragic it is, but I’m thinking about his family.” — Scottie Scheffler
“My guy lived a tough life. His struggles are over and I know he’s not in pain anymore. Hate to lose somebody who regardless of what people said was always so great to me. RIP brother.” — Will Zalatoris
“I think I first met Grayson at my home club when Grayson was probably 8 years old, maybe 9. He was the first winner of the Webb Simpson Challenge Junior Tournament that I’ve had for 14 years. So, when you hear news like that over the phone you don’t think it’s real at first, and you know, you hear the emotion coming from our [once shared] swing coach [Ted Kiegiel] and then you realize it’s real. But I know that his mom was with him during the Wells Fargo Championship and I think they were hanging out together, and I loved those two days we got [grouped] together. So I’m super thankful for getting some good time with him before the bad news of today.” — Webb Simpson
Speechless to hear about Grayson. Guy had been through so many ups and downs to get where he was. I hurt so much for his family and the people closest to him. My condolences and deepest sympathies
— Justin Thomas (@JustinThomas34) May 25, 2024
Grayson- I will miss you dearly. You were for real and honest to the core.
— Ernie Els (@TheBig_Easy) May 25, 2024
May your family find peace in this time. Ernie.
Truly devastating news that Grayson Murray has passed away. He asked me for some advice on how to play Augusta a few months ago, last week I saw him at the PGA Championship, life truly is precious. My condolences and prayers to his whole family that they may find some peace 💔
— Luke Donald (@LukeDonald) May 25, 2024
Very sad to hear the news of Grayson Murray’s passing today. Life is so fragile… I was just hugging you at the Masters, telling you how proud of you I am. Thankful to have known you.
— bubba watson (@bubbawatson) May 25, 2024
My deepest condolences to his family and friends during this difficult time. He will be missed.
The LPGA extends our most heartfelt condolences to Grayson Murray’s family, friends, fans, fellow professional golfers as well as PGA TOUR staff and the entire golf community.⁰⁰Professional golf is a tight-knit community, and our thoughts and prayers are with the PGA TOUR and…
— LPGA (@LPGA) May 25, 2024
I had the opportunity to spend a few rounds of golf alongside Grayson in recent weeks at Hilton Head, Quail Hollow and Valhalla. I will always remember that and use it to remind myself that you never know what challenges people have going on in their lives and how they may be… pic.twitter.com/3yXnz1t8cK
— Justin ROSE (@JustinRose99) May 25, 2024
Speechless to hear about Grayson. Guy had been through so many ups and downs to get where he was. I hurt so much for his family and the people closest to him. My condolences and deepest sympathies
— Justin Thomas (@JustinThomas34) May 25, 2024
Statement from Colonial Country Club about the Death of Grayson Murray pic.twitter.com/quBEutHGvE
— Charles Schwab Challenge (@CSChallengeFW) May 25, 2024
I’m just heartbroken hearing about the passing of Grayson Murray. He was a friend to me at some of my lowest points in my career and I’ll always be appreciative of that. I will miss him very much but I know he is in good hands now. 🙏🏽 pic.twitter.com/FRtizoDrw1
— Smylie Kaufman (@SmylieKaufman10) May 26, 2024
