Grayson Murray douses demons to win epic Sony Open title

Grayson Murray waited a very long time to get his second PGA Tour victory, but it surely lastly arrived because the Sony Open in a three-man playoff.

He entered the 72nd gap one shot again of each Keegan Bradley and Byeong Hun An. Murray stuffed his method two toes for a faucet in a birdie to place himself into the playoff with Bradley and An.

Then within the playoff, Murray did the unthinkable: he sank a 39-foot birdie putt to win the title.

Murray gave an epic fist pump after the ball landed in its residence, but it surely wasn’t over.

“That putt was trying good the entire method,” Murray stated. “I’m a sucker for some good celebrations. I really like making big-time putts in big-time moments. I’m by no means going to again down from a celebration.”

Whereas the fist pump was impeccable, he needed to look forward to An to putt from 4 toes. It was Murray’s day as An missed his birdie putt, and so did Bradley.

It was a day filled with grinding for the Raleigh, N.C. native. He carded a bogey-free 67 however made simply three birdies all day.

“Arduous work pays off. It’s not straightforward, ,” Murray stated. “I needed to surrender a whole lot of occasions, hand over on myself, hand over on the sport of golf, hand over on life at occasions. Simply persevere, and whenever you get bored with preventing, let another person combat for you. That’s what occurred.”

If that quote sounds acquainted, Jimmy Valvano coined the well-known phrase. The quote will not be phrase for phrase from Valvano, but it surely obtained its level throughout.

“Yearly we see the Jimmy Valvano Award on the ESPYs, and we at all times see him speaking again within the day, his well-known quotes,” Murray stated. “It’s one thing to stay by. He was such an ideal inspiration to everybody, and so they’re nonetheless elevating tons of cash by means of his basis. A man like that who can have that kind of perspective who’s principally dying, why can’t I?”

Photograph by Michael Reaves/Getty Photographs

Murray is eight months sober and has been preventing again to get into the suitable way of thinking. His story of discovering his religion and having his assist system round him has gotten him so far.

He’s preventing off these demons and obtained the job completed Sunday. It took him a very long time to get to the place he’s now.

Many would say that this win modified his life, however to Murray, it didn’t.

“It’s rather a lot for my profession. I knew at this time was not going to vary my life,” he stated. “My fiancée modified my life; Jesus Christ modified my life. Immediately wasn’t going to vary my life, but it surely did change my profession a bit bit, and I’m excited.”

With this victory, he earned entrance into the Signature Occasions this 12 months and can make his first journey to Augusta Nationwide to play on the Masters.

Murray is preventing to higher himself daily and to remain the course. This week in Hawaii confirmed what he’s able to.

Savannah Leigh Richardson is a golf employees author for SB Nation’s Enjoying By. For extra golf protection, you should definitely comply with us @_PlayingThrough on all main social platforms. You too can comply with her on Twitter @SportsGirlSL and Instagram @savannah_leigh_sports.