Grayson Murray, and the emotional way a US Open winner will remember him

“Grayson!”

“Grayson!”

“Grayson!”

Finally, Grayson Murray turned to the man.

Gary Woodland did too. He remembers it well.

This week, they are playing Sony Open on the PGA Tour, and there are memories of Murray everywhere, and everyone is remembering them. Four months ago took his own lifehe will Sony wonand the tributes have been emotional. Sony’s flags this week are adorned with red and black stripes, the colors of Murray’s favorite NHL team, the Carolina Panthers. Earlier in the week, there were a ceremony which included Murray’s parents, Eric and Terry. Professionals have been asked for their thoughts.

Woodland offered a story.

The 2019 US Open winner said he knew Murray and that they had been friendly. “Uber-talented kid, obviously,” Woodland said, “and he was a huge hockey fan.” Woodland caddy Brennan Little and Murray hit it off talking balls, actually. Their couple together last May during The PGA Championship the final round would no doubt work well.

But the chanting of Murray’s name was hard to ignore. Professionals hear all kinds of whistleblowing at events, but the man persisted.

“I thought maybe Grayson drove her crazy,” Woodland said she thought at first. “He was yelling, ‘Grayson, Grayson’ over and over again, to the point where Grayson finally had to look. We were trying not to, and laughing about it while talking, and then Grayson looked over.

“And it was beautiful.”

Murray was open about his mental health, especially after his win at Sony. The man at Valhalla Golf Club had heard.

After getting Murray’s attention, he began to cry.

“The guy was devastated … and thanked Grayson for being open about his struggles and everything. The boy was sober now. He was getting into golf because of Grayson. He heard Grayson’s story.

“Grayson was helping people and I will always remember that.”

It’s also been a sentiment embraced by Woodland, who is recovering from surgery in 2023 that removed part of a scar attached to his brain. Before that, the lesion had caused Woodland feelings of severe fear, where he thought he was dying, and Woodland said this week that while the procedure has helped, he is still fighting.

“It’s hard to be open and it’s hard to talk about struggles,” Woodland said. “I tell that story about Grayson because I’ve been very open about what I’ve been through, and last year wasn’t a good year for me golf-wise, and it’s been hard for me to do the things I love. I do, but I know it has had a positive impact on other people because I’ve seen the messages; I’ve seen people come up to me when I’m playing.

“Not everyone has the support systems that many of us have here, and I’m very blessed to have a great team around me. There are people who struggle and go through a lot who don’t have it.

“So I’ve been open because I want people to know that they’re going through something that’s hard that you’re not alone in this, that I’m here playing, I’m playing, living a dream, but I’m fighting also. Like I said, I’m blessed to have people around me who can help me. Not everyone has that.”

Have people approached Woodland?

Some, he said. He has heard them too.

“I’ve had grown men come up to me crying because they’ve been fighting brain tumors or fighting things, and seeing me out here playing again gives them hope,” Woodland said. “I’m trying to do that. Ultimately, I want to make a positive impact on this world. I would like to make a positive impact on myself by playing golf and I would like to make a positive impact on my family.

“It was difficult for me last year until the last two months when we realized some things. It has been difficult for me to be around my children. My kids have so much energy and my brain couldn’t handle it. My brain couldn’t take it. My poor wife has to explain to my kids why dad has to go in the room because too much energy and excitement – my kids are full of life and dad can’t handle it.

“So I couldn’t be the father I wanted to be. I couldn’t play the way I wanted to play. But my story and being able to help and talk about it has helped me, and that’s one thing that’s kept me going because I wasn’t who I was trying to be, but I’m helping other people who hopefully are going through something that they. I’m struggling with, and their stories kept me going as well.”

Editor’s Note: To donate to the Grayson Murray Foundation which raises awareness about mental health and addiction, please click here.

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