Two-time PGA winner Grayson Murray, who tragically committed suicide earlier this week, once thanked his fiancée Christiana Ritchie for helping him get through his ‘struggles.’
The golfer spoke openly about his battles with depression, anxiety and alcoholism, however indicated that he was in a better place after winning the Sony Open in January.
‘I have a beautiful fiancée. I have beautiful parents. “I have beautiful nephews and brothers,” Murray told reporters after the tournament in Hawaii, noting that he had been sober for eight months.
‘Everyone who is close to me right now in my life and who has gone through struggles with me, it’s a team effort. “I’m not sitting here, I’m sitting here alone, but they’re all part of this.”
Murray, who tragically passed away at age 30, proposed to Ritchie in December 2023.
Grayson Murray previously thanked his fiancée, Christiana Ritchie, for her support.
“It’s all a team effort,” he said, noting that she helped him overcome his “struggles.”
The couple bonded over their shared love of golf and their Christian faith after meeting at the 2021 American Express tournament in Palm Springs.
“She has dedicated her life to Christ and I have dedicated my life to Christ,” he told Golf Monthly in January.
“That will be the first thing in our relationship in the future,” he explained.
They were last seen together at last month’s Masters, where Ritchie caddied for his fiancé world number 58 and showed off his impressive swing during the Par 3 contest.
Like Murray, she was also an avid golfer and played during her time at the University of Southern California, where she earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Real Estate Development in 2018.
The couple met in 2021 at the American Express tournament, held in Palm Springs.
Ritchie shared her fiance’s love of golf, along with his dedication to his Christian faith.
They were last seen together at the 2024 Masters, where she was his caddy.
The sports world was shocked when PGA Tour commissioner Jay Monahan confirmed the North Carolina native’s death, less than 24 hours after withdrawing from the Charles Schwab Challenge in Texas.
His parents, Eric and Terry Murray, later confirmed that he had taken his own life.
“We have spent the last 24 hours trying to come to terms with the fact that our son is gone,” the family statement said. ‘It’s surreal that we not only have to admit it to ourselves, but we also have to admit it to the world. It’s a nightmare.
‘We have so many unanswered questions. But one. Was Grayson loved? The answer is yes. For us, his brother Cameron, his sister Erica, his entire family, his friends, his fellow players and – apparently – many of you who are reading this,’ they continued.
‘We would like to thank the PGA Tour and the entire golf world for the great support. Life wasn’t always easy for Grayson and, although he took his own life, we know that he now rests in peace.
For help, call Samaritans on 116123 in the UK or visit www.samaritans.org, or Suicide & Crisis Lifeline on 988 in the US.
