Grayson Murray credited ‘beautiful’ fiancée Christiana Ritchie for helping him through his ‘struggles’ after PGA victory in January
Two-time PGA winner Grayson Murray, who tragically died by suicide earlier this week, once thanked his fiancée Christiana Ritchie for helping him through his ‘struggles’.
The golfer has been open about his battles with depression, anxiety and alcoholism, but he admitted he was in a better position after winning the Sony Open in January.
‘I have a beautiful fiancée. I have wonderful parents. I have beautiful nephews and siblings,” Murray told reporters after the tournament in Hawaii, noting he had been sober for eight months.
“Everyone in my life right now who is close to me and who has been through the struggle with me, it’s all a team effort. I’m not sitting here – I’m sitting here alone, but they’re all part of it.”
Murray, who tragically passed away at the age of 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 through 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 dedicated her life to Christ, and I committed my life to Christ,” he told Golf Monthly in January.
“That’s what will be the first step in our relationship going forward,” he explained.
They were last spotted together at last month’s Masters, where Ritchie caddied for her fiancé at world number 58 and showed off her impressive swing in the Par 3 contest.
Like Murray, she was also an avid golfer and played all the time at the University of Southern California, where she earned a Bachelor of Real Estate Development in 2018.
The pair met in 2021 at the American Express tournament in Palm Springs
Ritchie shared her fiancé’s love of golf, along with a commitment to their Christian faith
They were last spotted together at the 2024 Masters, where she caddied for him
The sports world was shocked when PGA Tour commissioner Jay Monahan confirmed the North Carolina native’s death less than 24 hours after he withdrew from the Charles Schwab Challenge in Texas.
His parents, Eric and Terry Murray, later confirmed that he had committed suicide.
“We have spent the past 24 hours trying to come to terms with the fact that our son is no longer here,” the family’s statement said. “It’s surreal that not only do we have to admit it to ourselves, but we have to admit it to the world. It’s a nightmare.
‘We have so many questions for which there are no answers. But one. Was Grayson loved? The answer is yes. By us, his brother Cameron, his sister Erica, his entire extended family, by his friends, by his co-stars and – it seems – by many of you reading this,” they continued.
“We would like to thank the PGA Tour and the entire golfing world for the outpouring of support. Life was not always easy for Grayson, and although he took his own life, we know he now rests peacefully.”
For support, call Samaritans on 116123 in the UK or visit www.samaritans.org, or the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline on 988 in the US.