Rory McIlroy issues poignant message after Grayson Murray's death rocked PGA Tour
Rory McIlroy has spoken out on the death of Grayson Murray
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Rory McIlroy feels Grayson Murray's tragic death has put 'everything in perspective' and highlighted how 'vulnerable and fragile' professional sports stars can be.
Murray withdrew from the Charles Schwab Challenge midway through his second round.
The PGA Tour then announced on Saturday that the 30-year-old had passed away with his parents later confirming their son had taken his own life.
Murray had been open about his own battles with addiction and mental health and admitted earlier this year that he had sought help.
Speaking ahead of this week's RBC Canadian Open, McIlroy sent his well wishes to Murray's family and friends.
Rory McIlroy is back playing his first event since the PGA Championship
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“It’s incredibly sad, first and foremost, and I think we’re all thinking of Grayson’s family and hoping that they’re doing OK and getting through this incredibly tough period,” McIlroy said.
“It’s cliche, but it puts everything in perspective.
"At the end of the day golf is golf and, yeah, we play it for a living, but it pales in comparison to the things that actually matter in life.
“I’ve had to realise that at times and I’m still sort of working my way through that in terms of not making golf the be-all and end-all for me.
"I think it slaps you in the face when something like that happens last week.
“It’s incredibly sad and everyone has to remember out here that we go out and we do things that a lot of people can’t, but at the end of the day we’re still human beings and we’re vulnerable and we’re fragile.
"And I think if there’s a lesson for anyone out there it’s just to be kinder to each other."
McIlroy returns to action this week having taken some time off after the PGA Championship.
He ended up finishing tied-12th at Valhalla after a disappointing second round saw him drop away from the leading group.
Grayson Murray passed away at the weekend
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McIlroy has a good record at the Canadian Open having won the event twice in 2019 and 2022.
The 35-year-old now feels refreshed after taking a week off, where he attended one of his friend's weddings in Italy.
He said: "Spent time with my family and with Poppy and, yeah, it was awesome.
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Grayson Murray previously spoke about his battles with mental health
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"So I needed that reset. I'm playing four weeks in a row here, so, yeah, I'm ready to go, but, yeah, it's been a busy stretch and I'm sort of easing my way back into it.
"I probably hit a grand total of probably 150 balls last week.
"So, not that I feel rusty, I feel like I've played enough golf to keep myself taken over, but, yeah, last week was a good week to just reset and sort of start again."
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