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Murray's tragic passing has shocked the golf world
News of Grayson Murray's passing has shocked the golf and sports world.
The 30-year-old suddenly withdrew from the Charles Schwab Challenge in Texas on Friday, with his death announced by PGA Tour Commissioner Jay Monahan a day later.
Murray's career in golf began at a young age, and while it was marked by plenty of milestones and victories, he faced plenty of challenges away from the course as well.
He battled alcohol addiction, anxiety and depression. Back in January, after winning the Sony Open, he talked about how his triumph on the course didn't mask his struggles, revealing that he was eight months sober.
"There are days where I didn't want to get out of bed," Murray said after winning in a playoff.
"I just thought I was a failure. I always looked at myself as a failure. I thought I had a lot of talent that was just a waste of talent."
He also noted throughout that weekend that his story was one of perseverance.
"Just persevere," he said when talking to the media after his win "and when you get tired of fighting let someone else fight for you."
Murray expanded on the importance of those words and why they resonated with him.
"Yeah, that's kind of a Jimmy Valvano quote. He said, when you get tired of fighting, let someone else fight for you. I don't know the exact words he said, but that's kind of where I got it from," said Murray.
Murray knew Valvano's story very well having grown up in Raleigh, North Carolina. That's where Valvano coached the N.C. State University basketball team for the entire 1980s.
He even led the team to a shocking upset win in the 1983 national championship. The image of Valvano running around in celebration remains iconic, especially in light of his speech at the ESPYs a decade later.
"Don't give up. Don't ever give up," Valvano, sick with cancer, told the crowd at Madison Square Garden in March 1993.
"Cancer can take away all my physical abilities. It cannot touch my mind. It cannot touch my heart. And it cannot touch my soul. And those three things are going to carry on forever. I thank you and God bless y'all."
Valvano's words served as inspiration for Murray. His tragic passing shows just how quickly life can change, with fans and those in the golf community sharing their memories of the now former golfer.
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