Rory McIlroy speaks out on the death of Grayson Murray

Rory McIlroy believes the death of two-time PGA Tour winner Grayson Murray has highlighted how ‘vulnerable and fragile’ top sports stars can be.

The golfing world was left in shock on Saturday when it was announced the American had died less than 24 hours after withdrawing from the second round at the Charles Schwab Challenge in Texas with two holes remaining.

His parents confirmed in a statement Sunday that Murray had taken his own life. He had previously spoken openly about his battles with depression, anxiety and alcoholism.

The troubled golfer is believed to have died from suspected carbon monoxide poisoning, DailyMail.com can reveal. He was found inside his $800,000 residence in Palm Beach Gardens around 11am ET on Saturday, according to local police.

Following Murray’s passing, four-time major winner McIlroy, who filed for divorce from wife Erica Stoll two weeks ago, called for kindness.  

Click here to resize this module

‘It’s incredibly sad, first and foremost, and I think we’re all thinking of Grayson’s family and hoping that they’re doing OK and getting through this incredibly tough period,’ McIlroy said ahead of the RBC Canadian Open.

‘It’s cliche, but it puts everything in perspective. At the end of the day golf is golf and, yeah, we play it for a living, but it pales in comparison to the things that actually matter in life.

‘I’ve had to realize that at times and I’m still sort of working my way through that in terms of not making golf the be-all and end-all for me. I think it slaps you in the face when something like that happens last week.

‘It’s incredibly sad and everyone has to remember out here that we go out and we do things that a lot of people can’t, but at the end of the day we’re still human beings and we’re vulnerable and we’re fragile, and I think if there’s a lesson for anyone out there it’s just to be kinder to each other.’

A spokesman for the Palm Beach Gardens Police Department said there was an ongoing inquiry into Murray’s death.

‘We are conducting an investigation into the matter that occurred in our city,’ he said.

A police statement added: ‘The decedent was discovered on Saturday, May 25, 2024, at approximately 11:00 am. The initial inquiry does not reveal signs of foul play.

‘There is no apparent risk to the public and no further information will be released as the investigation is being conducted.’

Click here to resize this module

Murray’s death came a day after he unexpectedly pulled out of the second round of the Charles Schwab Challenge in Fort Worth, Texas. He had told his playing partners he was feeling unwell.

‘We have spent the last 24 hours trying to come to terms with the fact that our son is gone,’ his distraught parents, Eric and Terry Murray, said in a statement Sunday.

‘It’s surreal that we not only have to admit it to ourselves, but that we also have to acknowledge it to the world. It’s a nightmare.’

Murray had been open about his struggles  with anxiety and depression. Over the past year he had turned things around, however, by getting sober, requalifying for the PGA Tour and winning January’s Sony Open, his first victory in seven years.

He credited his family, and especially Christiana, for his career resurgence, telling reporters: ‘I have a beautiful fiancée now that I love so much and who’s so supportive of me.

‘It just makes everything so easy when I get out here inside the ropes when everyone in my circle is really pulling for me.

‘And they’re right there with me when I do have those hard days, and I still have hard days. But I feel a lot more at peace inside those ropes now.’

Murray and Christiana began dating in 2021 after they met at the American Express tournament in Palm Springs, California .

They got engaged in December and last month Christiana caddied for Murray during the Par-3 contest ahead of The Masters.

The RBC Canadian Open returns to Hamilton Golf and Country Club for the first time since 2019, when McIlroy carded a closing 61 to lift the title he eventually successfully defended in 2022 following two years without a tournament due to Covid.

After winning the Players Championship in March, McIlroy had passed up a number of other opportunities and was determined to seal victory, but joked he was still upset at not shooting 59 in the final round.

‘I played in quite a few final groups and hadn’t got the job done,’ McIlroy said.

‘I remember going out that day just thinking be as aggressive as you possibly can be. Thankfully got off to a really good start and kept it going until the point where 59 sort of entered the equation in the middle of the back nine.

‘When I eagled 17, knowing that I needed to birdie the last to shoot 59, and blew a five iron right into the bunker and ended up making bogey, I had to remind myself when I tapped in to look happy, because I had just won a tournament.

‘But I was sort of disappointed I didn’t shoot 59. Not that I still think about it.’

McIlroy finished ninth last year when Nick Taylor became the first Canadian to win their national Open since 1954 by holing from 72 feet for eagle on the fourth play-off hole to deny Tommy Fleetwod a first PGA Tour title.

If you or a loved one is experiencing suicidal thoughts or actions, please contact the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline at 988 or 1-800-273-TALK (8255)