We’re only human, says Rory McIlroy as PGA Tour deals with Grayson Murray suicide
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Rory McIlroy says that at the end of the day, golfers and sportsmen are all just human beings and that "we're vulnerable and we're fragile".
PHOTO: REUTERS
HAMILTON – Before launching his bid for a Canadian Open hat-trick this week, Rory McIlroy took a moment on May 29 to remind fans that golfers are only human as the PGA Tour comes to grips with the suicide of two-time winner Grayson Murray on May 25.
McIlroy, winner of the Canadian Open in 2019 and 2022, has been dealing with some personal turmoil, having announced earlier in May that he was ending his seven-year marriage and had filed for divorce.
The four-time Major winner has also found himself under frequent attack as one of the front-line figures in the sometimes bitter feud between the PGA Tour and LIV Golf circuit.
“I’ve had to realise that at times, and I’m still sort of working my way through that in terms of not making golf the be-all end-all for me,” the Northern Irishman said following practice at the Hamilton Golf and Country Club, ahead of the first round on May 30.
“I think it slaps you in the face when something like that happens last week.
“As I said, 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.”
The 35-year-old then stressed: “I think if there’s a lesson for anyone out there, it’s just to be kinder to each other.”
Murray’s death, one day after he withdrew from the Charles Schwab Challenge citing illness, has rocked the golf world.
The 30-year-old American turned professional in 2015 and won his first PGA Tour title in 2017. He reached a career-high 46th in the world rankings after winning the Sony Open in Hawaii, as recently as in January.
But Murray had a history of alcohol abuse and depression, and his parents confirmed in a statement to the PGA Tour that their son took his own life.
Canadian hope Mackenzie Hughes said: “I came on Tour in 2016, 2017 with Grayson.
“It was out there for everyone, his ups and downs, his life was well documented. He was doing that as well by speaking about what he was dealing with.
“I think people need to realise that professional athletes that are making lots of money are also dealing with the same things that everyone else deals with.
“If that’s going to be his legacy, that’s a pretty great one to leave, that it’s okay to be not okay.”
Hughes also hoped that things can improve for all golfers.
“I know the Tour now will kind of look at how we can be better there, how we can continue to help people that are struggling and hopefully avoid this in the future,” he said. REUTERS
