American golfer Grayson Murray has pulled no punches in lambasting the PGA Tour in offering little assistance in helping curb his alcoholism.
The 27-year-old North Carolina born Grayson, who captured the 2017 Barbasol Championship, has issued a damning statement directed at the Tour. Grayson says in the statement the Tour refused to help him battle his addiction.
“The PGA Tour didn’t force me to drink. But the PGA Tour never gave me help,” Murray wrote. “In my five years of experience of being on tour not once have I ever had a request been acknowledged by the commissioner or the PAC [Player Advisory Council] other than ‘we will get back to you.’ I hope not only the PGA Tour steps up in the areas they need to step up but I also hope people are held accountable in their roles they serve.”
— Grayson Murray (@GraysonMurray) July 23, 2021
The PGA Tour responded to Murray’s post Saturday via Golf.com saying: “We can unequivocally say that the PGA Tour is a family, and when a member of that family needs help, we are there for him. That has been the case here and will continue to be.”
Six-time Major winning Phil Mickelson reached out to Murray, and seemingly mirroring his own Tour experience, in tweeting: “We will get back to you’ is the only response I’ve ever gotten too.”
Murray said the PGA Tour has him on probation for being drunk in a hotel bar in Hawaii.
After an opening-round 73 at the 3M Open, Murray posted an opening hole double bogey on day two of the event and duly withdrew.
Murray is known to have endured various injuries in recent years, so much so he’s currently ranked No. 457 in the world and with a career high of 85th in the world two weeks after winning the 2017 Barbasol.
Grayson indicated his alcohol addiction has led to several of his problems and that he is on probation with the PGA Tour due to an incident in Hawaii.
Murray had poked fun at himself and Bryson DeChambeau last week after DeChambeau’s comments about his equipment caused controversy at The Open. Murray said his seven consecutive missed cuts had nothing to do with his equipment.
In his post, Murray made fun of the tour for threatening him with a $20,000 fine, saying “the joke’s on them” because he hasn’t made any money. He said his troubles in Hawaii stemmed simply from getting drunk.
“Why was I drunk? Because I’m a f—ing alcoholic that hates everything to do with the PGA Tour life and that’s my scapegoat,” he wrote. “I’ve honestly gotten a lot better since then. Actually, a lot better.”
This is a story that is sure to rumble on this week.
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