A golf reporter who covered Grayson Murray’s career has admitted the PGA Tour star ‘had a lot of demons’ following his suicide last week.
The golfing world was stunned on Saturday when it was announced the American had died less than 24 hours after withdrawing from the second round at the Charles Schwab Challenge in Texas with two holes remaining.
Murray, who struggled with depression, alcoholism and anxiety, is believed to have died from suspected carbon monoxide poisoning, DailyMail.com revealed earlier this week.
The two-time PGA tour winner, 30, is believed to have left his Land Rover running in his ground-floor garage then headed upstairs as it pumped fumes into the three-story property in Palm Beach Gardens.
Murray was found inside his $800,000 residence around 11am ET on Saturday, according to local police.
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NBC Sports and Golf Channel reporter Todd Lewis saw Murray throughout his career and said he witnessed the golf star struggle with his mental health.
‘Early on in Grayson’s career, he had a lot of demons,’ said Lewis.
‘He battled alcoholism. He battled depression, battled anxiety.
‘He realized that it was okay to not be okay and that gave him the comfort to try and get counseling to put some positive people around him.’
A spokesman for the Palm Beach Gardens Police Department said there was an ongoing inquiry into Murray’s death.
‘We are conducting an investigation into the matter that occurred in our city,’ he said.
A police statement added: ‘The decedent was discovered on Saturday, May 25, 2024, at approximately 11:00 am. The initial inquiry does not reveal signs of foul play.
‘There is no apparent risk to the public and no further information will be released as the investigation is being conducted.’
Murray’s death came a day after he unexpectedly pulled out of the second round of the Charles Schwab Challenge in Fort Worth, Texas. He had told his playing partners he was feeling unwell.
‘We have spent the last 24 hours trying to come to terms with the fact that our son is gone,’ his distraught parents, Eric and Terry Murray, said in a statement Sunday.
‘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.’
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Murray had been open about his struggles with anxiety and depression. Over the past year he had turned things around, however, by getting sober, requalifying for the PGA Tour and winning January’s Sony Open, his first victory in seven years.
He credited his family, and especially Christiana, for his career resurgence, telling reporters: ‘I have a beautiful fiancée now that I love so much and who’s so supportive of me.
‘It just makes everything so easy when I get out here inside the ropes when everyone in my circle is really pulling for me.
‘And they’re right there with me when I do have those hard days, and I still have hard days. But I feel a lot more at peace inside those ropes now.’
Murray and Christiana began dating in 2021 after they met at the American Express tournament in Palm Springs, California.
They got engaged in December and last month Christiana caddied for Murray during the Par-3 contest ahead of The Masters.
If you or a loved one is experiencing suicidal thoughts or actions, please contact the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline at 988 or 1-800-273-TALK (8255)