Davis Riley wins at Colonial as Scottie Scheffler struggles, players remember Grayson Murray
Sign up now: Get the biggest sports news in your inbox
Davis Riley sitting inside the winner’s 1975 Stingray Corvette after the final round of the Charles Schwab Challenge golf tournament on May 26.
PHOTO: REUTERS
Follow topic:
LOS ANGELES – Davis Riley shook off some early struggles to card an even-par 70 and claim his second PGA Tour title on May 26 at the Charles Schwab Challenge, where honouring late colleague Grayson Murray gave him “a little extra to play for”.
The 27-year-old, who started the day with a four-shot lead over world No. 1 Scottie Scheffler, had four bogeys and four birdies to finish with a 14-under total of 266 at Colonial Country Club in Fort Worth, Texas.
He finished five strokes in front of fellow Americans Scheffler and Keegan Bradley on a day when Murray was in the thoughts of all the golfers on the course, a day after his death at the age of 30.
Murray’s parents confirmed the two-time PGA Tour winner, who withdrew from the tournament late in the second round on May 24, had taken his own life.
“Obviously super sad day in the golf world,” Riley said. “My heart just goes to him and his family and there was definitely a little extra to play for today.”
Riley said he had expected a tough day playing alongside Scheffler, whose second US Masters title in April was part of a run of four titles in five starts.
But on a day when low scores were hard to come by, a birdie at the par-four ninth saw him take a six-shot lead into the back nine.
He would add another title to the one he claimed alongside Nick Hardy at the 2023 Zurich Classic two-man team event.
Riley said: “I knew coming into today it was going to be tough – a very tough golf course and when you’ve got the world No. 1 breathing down your neck, you know it’s going to be difficult until the last hole.”
Scheffler had three bogeys before a pair of back-nine birdies saw him post a 71 for 271.
Bradley had five birdies in his 67, and had reached 10 under with a birdie at the 17th before he gave back a shot at the final hole.
“My best round of the year probably,” said the 37-year-old, whose six tour titles include the 2011 PGA Championship.
He, too, played with a heavy heart, saying he was “heartbroken” to learn of Murray’s death.
“I was thinking about him all day today,” Bradley said. “I had this pin on my hat. We’re such a family here and to walk into the locker room this morning and know he was in there two days earlier...”
Murray’s parents, Eric and Terry Murray, had asked golfers to wear ribbon pins in black and red to honour Murray, who wore the colours of his hometown National Hockey League team, the Carolina Hurricanes, when competing on Sundays. AFP
