Grayson Murray final 12 months on the Sony Open.
Getty Photos
“Grayson!”
“Grayson!”
“Grayson!”
Lastly, Grayson Murray turned towards the person.
Gary Woodland did too. He remembers it effectively.
This week, they’re taking part in the Sony Open on the PGA Tour, and in all places there are recollections of Murray, and everyone seems to be recollecting. 4 months earlier than he took his personal life, he’d received 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 crew, 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 mentioned he knew Murray, and that they’d been pleasant. “Uber-talented child, clearly,” Woodland mentioned, “and he was an enormous hockey fan.” Woodland’s caddie, Brennan Little and Murray hit it off speaking pucks, truly. Their pairing collectively final Might throughout the PGA Championship’s remaining spherical would little question work effectively.
However shouting of Murray’s first title was robust to disregard. Professionals hear every kind of bellows at occasions, however the man endured.
“I believed perhaps Grayson made him mad,” Woodland mentioned 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 making an attempt to not, and we have been laughing about it speaking, after which Grayson regarded.
“And it was lovely.”
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 every part. The man was sober now. He was stepping into golf due to Grayson. He heard Grayson’s story.
“Grayson was serving to folks, and I’ll at all times 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 connected to his mind. Previous to that, the lesion had induced emotions of extreme worry in Woodland, to the place he thought he was dying, and Woodland mentioned this week whereas the process has helped, he’s nonetheless preventing.
“It’s arduous to be open, and it’s arduous to speak about struggles,” Woodland mentioned. “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 12 months for me golf-wise, and it’s been arduous for me to do issues that I wish to do, however I do know that it’s had a constructive impression on different folks as a result of I’ve seen the messages; I’ve seen folks come as much as me once I’m taking part in.
“Not everybody has the assist techniques that a variety of us have out right here, and I’m very blessed to have an enormous crew round me. There’s folks 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 folks to know which might be going by way of one thing that’s arduous that you simply’re not alone on this, that I’m out right here taking part in, I’m taking part in, dwelling a dream, however I’m struggling, too. Like I mentioned, I’m blessed to have folks round me that may assist me. Not all people has that.”
Have folks approached Woodland?
A number of, he mentioned. 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 taking part in once more provides them hope,” Woodland mentioned. “I’m making an attempt to try 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 taking part in golf, and I’d prefer to have a constructive impression on my household.
“It was arduous for me final 12 months till the final couple months once we figured some stuff. It’s been arduous for me to be round my youngsters. My youngsters have a lot vitality, 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 vitality and pleasure — my youngsters are vigorous 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 making an attempt to be, however I’m serving to different folks hopefully undergo one thing that they’re battling with, and their tales stored me going, as effectively.”
Editor’s observe: To donate to the Grayson Murray basis that raises consciousness of psychological well being and habit, please click on right here.
