Professional golfer Grayson Murray, who won the Sony Open earlier this year in Hawaii, has died, the PGA Tour announced on Saturday.
Murray, 30, withdrew from the Charles Schwab Challenge on Friday citing an illness.
“We were devastated to learn – and are heartbroken to share – that PGA TOUR player Grayson Murray passed away this morning. I am at a loss for words,” PGA TOUR Commissioner Jay Monahan said in a statement. “The PGA TOUR is a family, and when you lose a member of your family, you are never the same. We mourn Grayson and pray for comfort for his loved ones.”
“I reached out to Grayson’s parents to offer our deepest condolences, and during that conversation, they asked that we continue with tournament play,” Monahan continued. “They were adamant that Grayson would want us to do so. As difficult as it will be, we want to respect their wishes.”
The tour announced that grief counselors would be available at the Colonial and the Visit Knoxville Open on the Korn Ferry Tour, where Murray made his first cut at the age of 16.