"He was probably 8 years old" - Webb Simpson reminisces about his two-decade-long friendship with Grayson Murray
Grayson Murray's death on May 25, 2024, shocked the world of golf. The cause behind his death is suicide.
Murray, 30, was one of the most popular players on the PGA Tour and he was loved by fellow athletes and fans. Post the news of his death, several people paid their tributes.
One such man was Murray's childhood friend and PGA Tour professional Webb Simpson. During an interaction with the media after the Charles Schwab Challenge, Simpson detailed the history he shared with Murray.
Webb Simpson said:
“Grayson and I, we have a long history. I think I first met Grayson at my home club when Grayson was probably eight years old, maybe nine. And he was the first winner of the Webb Simpson Challenge junior tournament I’ve had for 14 years. When you hear news like that over the phone, you don’t think it’s real at first.”
Simpson further spoke about the two days he got to spend with Grayson Murray. He further added:
"You hear the emotion coming from our swing coach (Ted Kiegiel) and then you realize it’s real. But I know that his mum was with him during (this month’s) Wells Fargo Championship and they were hanging out together and I love those two days we got together. I’m super thankful for getting some good time with him."
Like Webb Simpson, several golfers on the PGA Tour only had good things to say about Murray. The 2017 Barbasol Championship winner and 2024 Sony Open winner will be remembered for a long time to come.
Grayson Murray's caddie spoke about the PGA professional's death
Before Grayson Murray die, he was spotted playing at the 2024 Charles Schwab Challenge. However, on Friday, during the second round, Murray withdrew from the tournament citing an illness. Later, on Saturday, the news of his death saddened the world of golf.
As mentioned above, many people were quick to react to the golfer's death. One such person was his caddie, Jay Green.
After Murray's death, Green issued a statement in which he said that the late golfer was the absolute best and would be missed deeply.
Green said:
"Grayson was the absolute best. Not only was he an incredible, thoughtful, and generous boss, he was an even better friend. He truly would do anything for anyone. He has the best family, and my heart goes out to them. We will all miss him deeply."
These statements from Murray's close friends and other PGA professionals speak volumes about the person he was. Murray will definitely be missed by fans and colleagues on the tour.