Grayson Murray final 12 months on the Sony Open.
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“Grayson!”
“Grayson!”
“Grayson!”
Lastly, Grayson Murray turned towards the person.
Gary Woodland did too. He remembers it nicely.
This week, they’re enjoying the Sony Open on the PGA Tour, and all over the place there are recollections of Murray, and everyone seems to be recollecting. 4 months earlier than he took his personal life, he’d gained the Sony, and the tributes have been emotional. Sony pin flags this week are adorned with red-and-black ribbons, the colours of Murray’s favourite NHL staff, the Carolina Panthers. Earlier within the week, there was a ceremony that included Murray’s mother and father, Eric and Terry. Professionals have been requested for his or her ideas.
Woodland provided a narrative.
The 2019 U.S. Open winner stated he knew Murray, and that they’d been pleasant. “Uber-talented child, clearly,” Woodland stated, “and he was an enormous hockey fan.” Woodland’s caddie, Brennan Little and Murray hit it off speaking pucks, really. Their pairing collectively final Might in the course of the PGA Championship’s last spherical would little doubt work nicely.
However shouting of Murray’s first identify was robust to disregard. Professionals hear every kind of bellows at occasions, however the man continued.
“I believed perhaps Grayson made him mad,” Woodland stated he thought at first. “He was yelling, ‘Grayson, Grayson,’ time after time, to a degree the place lastly Grayson needed to look. We have been attempting to not, and we have been laughing about it speaking, after which Grayson appeared.
“And it was stunning.”
Murray had been open about his psychological well being, particularly so after his Sony win. The person at Valhalla Golf Membership had listened.
After getting Murray’s consideration, he began to cry.
“The man broke down … and thanked Grayson for a way open he was about his struggles and all the pieces. The man was sober now. He was entering into golf due to Grayson. He heard Grayson’s story.
“Grayson was serving to individuals, and I’ll all the time keep in mind that.”
That’s additionally been a thought embraced by Woodland, who’s recovering from a surgical procedure in 2023 that eliminated a portion of a lesion hooked up to his mind. Previous to that, the lesion had induced emotions of extreme concern in Woodland, to the place he thought he was dying, and Woodland stated this week whereas the process has helped, he’s nonetheless combating.
“It’s exhausting to be open, and it’s exhausting to speak about struggles,” Woodland stated. “I say that story about Grayson as a result of I’ve been very open about what I’ve been going by way of, and final 12 months wasn’t a great 12 months for me golf-wise, and it’s been exhausting for me to do issues that I wish to do, however I do know that it’s had a constructive impression on different individuals as a result of I’ve seen the messages; I’ve seen individuals come as much as me after I’m enjoying.
“Not everybody has the assist methods that a variety of us have out right here, and I’m very blessed to have an enormous staff round me. There’s individuals battling and going by way of a variety of stuff that don’t have that.
“So I’ve been open as a result of I would like individuals to know which might be going by way of one thing that’s exhausting that you just’re not alone on this, that I’m out right here enjoying, I’m enjoying, residing a dream, however I’m struggling, too. Like I stated, I’m blessed to have individuals round me that may assist me. Not all people has that.”
Have individuals approached Woodland?
A number of, he stated. He’s listened to them, too.
With 1-letter, 1-symbol gesture, Grayson Murray remembered by Tour winner
“I’ve had grown males come as much as me crying that they’ve been battling mind tumors or battling stuff, and seeing me out right here enjoying once more provides them hope,” Woodland stated. “I’m attempting to do this. On the finish of the day, I wish to have a constructive impression on this world. I’d prefer to have a constructive impression on myself enjoying golf, and I’d prefer to have a constructive impression on my household.
“It was exhausting for me final 12 months till the final couple months once we figured some stuff. It’s been exhausting for me to be round my youngsters. My youngsters have a lot power, and my mind couldn’t stand it. My mind couldn’t sustain. My poor spouse has to clarify to my youngsters why Dad has to go to the room as a result of an excessive amount of power and pleasure — my youngsters are energetic and Daddy can’t deal with that.
“So I couldn’t be the daddy I wished to be. I couldn’t play the way in which I wished to play. However my story and with the ability to assist and discuss it has helped me, and that’s one factor that stored me going as a result of I wasn’t who I used to be attempting to be, however I’m serving to different individuals hopefully undergo one thing that they’re battling with, and their tales stored me going, as nicely.”
Editor’s observe: To donate to the Grayson Murray basis that raises consciousness of psychological well being and habit, please click on right here.
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