Grayson Murray final month on the PGA Championship.
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PINEHURST, N.C. — A reputation and two sentences. Twenty-nine phrases in all.
On a placard hooked up to the door of a wood locker at Pinehurst, the place Grayson Murray would have performed this week, within the state the place he grew up.
The gesture by the USGA forward of one in all its showcase occasions, the U.S. Open, was the newest in a collection throughout professional golf for Murray, the 30-year-old professional who died in late Could. His dad and mom have stated Murray took his personal life.
The Murray household had additionally inspired the PGA Tour to proceed the Charles Schwab Problem, the place Murray had withdrawn after 34 holes, with a observe that included the phrases: “Please honor Grayson by being form to 1 one other.” Varied tributes quickly adopted. On the Korn Ferry Tour a day after Murray’s demise was introduced, Harry Higgs took time in his winner’s speech to recollect his fellow professional.
“I simply have a message, so forgive me if issues get slightly deep,” Higgs started. “We misplaced, yesterday, one in all our personal. I don’t know if you happen to guys heard the information, however any person who went by numerous tough issues, any person that was open and sincere about it. And I assumed final night time, I didn’t sleep price a darn. And I’m actually good at sleeping. I considered this second and how one can possibly keep in mind Grayson.
“All people that’s right here, one, thanks a lot for receiving me and congratulating me and cheering me on all through. However this golf stuff and the consequence, it’s pretty, certain. However it’s simply — it’s simply not that significant.
“One factor that I sort of considered final night time, particularly laying in mattress, I’d problem all people right here, and I’m going to do that myself as nicely, every day, is to say one thing good to somebody you like. And likewise make it some extent to say one thing good to any person you don’t even know. The world is a really tough place. The world is tough and solely getting harder. I’ve been blessed with nice dad and mom and an awesome help system, and I haven’t had, aside from some frustration at occasions, any battles mentally. However Lord is aware of how many individuals do and it’s solely ever growing. So all people right here could possibly be a distinction. The distinction. Brighten up any person’s day. It might imply the world.
“The problem — I’ll begin. I’m certain I’ll say some nice issues to folks that I like, hopefully right here very quickly. However the second a part of the problem, say one thing good to folks that I have no idea. I’d like to handle each one in all you guys which are right here: Thanks from the underside of my coronary heart. Knoxville, you guys had been heat and gracious hosts. This may imply the world to me as I feel again on it, however I’ll simply keep in mind the good folks that I met right here in Knoxville. So once more, from the underside of my coronary heart, thanks. Let’s all attempt to put some good out on the planet.”
4 days later, on the Canadian Open, longtime good friend Akshay Bhatia wrote on his left wrist, in black marker, “G $,” or G-money. To his Instagram story, earlier than his early Thursday afternoon tee time, he posted an image of it and wrote: “Let’s trip immediately G.”
“He’s one in all my greatest buddies out right here, grew up collectively,” Bhatia stated after play that day. “I regarded as much as him for a very long time. I simply — yeah, I want he was nonetheless right here, however I do know he’s right here watching above everybody. Yeah, it’s simply loopy. Like I used to be driving yesterday — or a pair days in the past, going again from dinner again to the lodge, and for no matter cause, I regarded to the best, and there was a trash can with G-money on it. Simply freaky stuff occurs like that the place I do know he’s with us.
“Yeah, I’m enjoying for him this week, and each spherical I play for the following nevertheless lengthy. Yeah, he’s simply with me on a regular basis, and he meant quite a bit to me. Simply completely satisfied and proud to put on Grayson’s identify on my wrist.”
Extra tributes got here. Finally week’s Memorial Match, dozens of gamers and Tour officers gathered within the membership’s Memorial Park to share reminiscences of Murray as a participant and an individual.
Among the many gamers to take action was world No. 1 Scottie Scheffler, who talked at a podium subsequent to Murray’s golf bag and a photograph of him fist-pumping after successful the Sony Open in January.
In keeping with the Related Press, Scheffler known as Murray a “candy man” and shared a narrative about shedding a practice-round match towards Murray in March on the Gamers Championship.
“The look on his face after I gave him $100 on the ninth inexperienced is one thing I’ll keep in mind for a very long time since you couldn’t wipe that smile off his face. For sure, he liked being out right here contained in the ropes,” Scheffler stated.
The USGA’s gesture was revealed Tuesday morning through social media.
On the publish was an image of the placard hooked up to the locker. The placard learn:
“Grayson Murray. The USGA remembers Grayson and pays tribute to the enjoying accomplishments that merited his place within the 124th U.S. Open Championship. ‘Be form to 1 one other.’”
