Webb Simpson remembers late friend Grayson Murray: ‘I miss him a ton’
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Webb Simpson (above) was a close friend to the late Grayson Murray, who took his own life in 2024.
PHOTO: AFP
LOS ANGELES – Webb Simpson and Grayson Murray were born eight years apart in the city of Raleigh, North Carolina.
When Simpson was a teenager with his sights set on a golf career, he met Murray for the first time. His swing coach told him there was a kid around eight or nine who was already “really good” and did not live far.
“I remember meeting him. He was just a classic little eight-year-old, nine-year-old golfer. Very good at the game,” the 39-year-old recalled on Jan 7.
“It was kind of one of those where you encounter good young juniors, but it’s rare where a guy gets better and better. So I kept watching him and staying in touch.”
Their friendship lasted till both were playing professionally on the PGA Tour.
In May 2024, four months after winning the Sony Open in Hawaii, Murray died by suicide at age 30, a shock to Simpson and the PGA Tour community.
Murray is on the players’ minds this week as they prepare to play the tournament without its defending champion.
“I miss him a ton,” Simpson said. “When it happens, it’s fresh on your mind and you think about it for days and weeks. You don’t stop thinking about it.
“But as time goes on, you know, life goes on, and then you have these moments a year after he won where we get to remember just his win, his life, what he meant to so many people.”
Murray’s family came to Hawaii this week as the PGA Tour helped put together a celebration of life for the late golfer, who during his life was open about his struggles with depression and addiction.
His parents, Eric and Terry Murray, also announced the launch of the Grayson Murray Foundation that will focus on mental health and addiction awareness.
Simpson also said it was “very fitting” to have the celebration of life at the site of Murray’s last victory on tour.
“I can only imagine how hard it must be to lose a child, to even understand what they’re going through,” he added of Murray’s parents.
“I hope I don’t have to ever go through that. But I hope that they could see how celebrated he was. I was really encouraged with how many guys came, players, caddies, PGA Tour staff, media. I think it was a great outpouring of love for Grayson.
“It’s hard to not be like immediately reminded of the sadness of what happened in May. But also don’t want to forget there were like real moments of joy and real moments where he experienced some great things in life.” REUTERS
