Grayson Murray was engaged to be married to his fiancée Christiana Ritchie before he tragically died by suicide on Saturday.
The 30-year-old Murray, who withdrew from the Charles Schwab Challenge during the second round on Friday, said after winning the Sony Open in January that he met Ritchie in Palm Springs at a tournament three years ago.
After being open about his battles with depression and alcoholism, Murray said at the time he was in a better place and credited Ritchie as being a reason why.
“I have a beautiful fiancée. I have beautiful parents. I have beautiful nephews, siblings,” Murray said in January. “Everyone in my life right now who is close to me who has been through the struggles with me, it’s all a team effort. I’m not sitting here — I am sitting here alone, but all of them are part of this.”
Ritchie “loves” golf, Murray said, having grown up around the sport, and he participated in the Masters Par 3 contest last month.
The couple was set to get married on April 27 in Pinehurst, Murray said at the time, though it’s unclear if the wedding took place; Webb Simpson, who knew Murray for more than 20 years, still referred to Ritchie as Murray’s fiancée on Saturday.
“Grayson put great people around him. His fiancée, Christiana, seems like a great woman. I think they were really excited about getting married,” Simpson said. “I actually had a meal with them during the Pebble Beach tournament. I think he has really explored his faith over the years. It seemed like the last six months to eight months, he had really started committing his life to Christ and trying to honor Christ with his life. It definitely seemed like there was more of a lightness to him, in a good way, over these past few months when I would see him.
“I know his parents somewhat well, and I can’t imagine what they’re going through right now.”
Before the Sony Open playoff, Murray, a Christian, and Ritchie said a prayer together.
“I think I neglected that part of my life for a while, and meeting my fiancée and how our lives kind of changed over the last three years, she’s devoted her life to Christ, and I’ve devoted my life to Christ. That’s what’s going to be first in our relationship going forward,” Murray said after his win.
The PGA Tour announced Murray’s death on Saturday, and on Sunday morning, his parents, Eric and Terry, released a statement through the Tour revealing that Murray “took his own life.”
“We have spent the last 24 hours trying to come to terms with the fact that our son is gone,” his parents said. “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.
“We have so many questions that have no answers. But one.
“Was Grayson loved? The answer is yes. By us, his brother Cameron, his sister Erica, all of his extended family, by his friends, by his fellow players and – it seems – by many of you who are reading this. He was loved and he will be missed.”
If you are struggling with suicidal thoughts, you can dial the 24/7 National Suicide Prevention hotline at 988 or go to SuicidePreventionLifeline.org.