Peter Malnati expressed a heartfelt and emotional response to the tragic news of Grayson Murray’s death.
In an interview with CBS Sports on Saturday, May 25, Malnati, visibly shaken, shared his feelings about Murray’s sudden passing. He recalled playing alongside Murray during the first two rounds of the 2024 Charles Schwab Challenge on May 23-24, just before Murray’s death at the age of 30 was announced.
“This is gonna be really hard,” Malnati said, fighting back tears. “I didn’t know Grayson all that well, but I spent the last few days with him and it’s so funny… we get so worked up out here about a bad break here or a good break there.”
He paused, overwhelmed with emotion, before continuing. “You know, we’re so competitive, so competitive out here. We all want to beat each other. And then something like this happens and you realize we’re all just humans.”
Malnati reflected on the human aspects overshadowed by competitive spirits, emphasizing the profound impact of Murray’s death. “This is just a really, really hard day because you look at Grayson and you see in him someone who has visibly, outwardly struggled in the past, and he’s been open about it. And you see him get his life back to a place where he’s feeling good about things. It’s just so sad.”
The PGA Tour confirmed Murray’s passing in a statement, expressing deep sorrow. PGA Tour Commissioner Jay Monahan said, “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. 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.”
The cause of Murray’s death was not disclosed.
He had withdrawn from the Charles Schwab Challenge on May 24 after competing in the first two rounds. Murray had previously won his second PGA Tour title at the Sony Open in Hawaii in January.
Murray had openly discussed his struggles with alcohol, anxiety, and depression following severe injuries from a scooter accident in Bermuda in 2022, which affected his ability to play.
Fellow golfers also paid tribute to Murray, sharing their shock and condolences. Scottie Scheffler told CBS Sports, “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.”
Webb Simpson also expressed his disbelief, saying, “My heart sank… I just played with him at Charlotte the first two days. We had a great time together. His game looked good. I just hate it. I hate it so much. I’ve gotten to know him even better this year—we shared a meal together at Pebble Beach with his fiancee. I know she’s hurting and everyone associated with Grayson Murray is hurting.”
