Grayson Murray sank a 38-foot birdie putt on the primary further gap to win a three-man playoff on Sunday on the US PGA Tour Sony Open, finishing a surprising private comeback.
The 30-year-old American, who battled again from alcohol abuse and psychological points, beat countryman Keegan Bradley and South Korean An Byeong-hun to seize his second profession tour title.
Murray, who claimed his solely prior PGA Tour title on the 2017 Barbasol Championship as a tour rookie, made his fightback after a 2022 motor scooter accident in Bermuda.
“A number of exhausting work pays off,” he mentioned moments after the victory. “It’s not straightforward. I needed to surrender a variety of occasions — surrender on myself, surrender on the sport of golf, surrender on life at occasions.”
His recommendation to others going through hardships was easy.
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“Simply persevere,” Murray mentioned. “And if you get bored with preventing, let another person battle for you. And that’s what occurred.”
An, Murray and Bradley all ended a back-nine shootout on 17-under 263 after 72 holes at Waialae in Honolulu, Hawaii.
“I hate it for Keegan and Ben. They performed superior golf,” Murray mentioned. “Typically it’s simply robust to be in a playoff when it’s sudden demise and just one individual can win.”
China’s Carl Yuan fired a 63 to share fourth on 264 with American Russell Henley and American J.T. Poston was sixth on 265 after a closing 61.
Murray certified for PGA signature occasions and his first journey to the Masters.
“In the present day wasn’t going to vary my life,” Murray mentioned. “However it did change my profession a bit of bit and I’m excited.”
The life adjustments bought him into the place for the victory, Murray mentioned.
“I hope everybody at residence watching can get a bit of inspiration from me. If I can assist one person who’s all it takes.”
Murray cited the braveness he discovered to danger making adjustments in his life.
“Change is troublesome as a result of it’s unknown. You don’t know what’s going to occur. You don’t know if it’s going to repay,” he mentioned.
“I hope individuals can see the change Ive made in my private life. I need to be referred to as individual going ahead.”
After a number of five-way ties for the lead down the stretch, Bradley seized the lead alone by sinking a 21-foot birdie putt on the par-4 fifteenth to achieve 17-under.
On the par-5 18th, An missed an eagle putt from simply past 13 toes however tapped in for birdie to match Bradley for the lead.
Murray dropped his method at 18 inside three toes and tapped in for birdie to achieve the playoff whereas Henley missed a 23-foot birdie putt at 18 for the victory.
‘An ideal stroke’
The playoff was a return to 18, the place Bradley hit a 5-wood into the left grandstands along with his second shot. An was in greenside tough to the proper and Murray was brief within the fairway.
After Murray left himself a 38-foot birdie putt and Bradley left himself 17 toes for birdie, An pitched to only exterior 4 toes and appeared to have the benefit.
However Murray rolled in his wonderful putt, his rivals missed and Murray had an emotional triumph.
“That was only a good stroke,” Murray mentioned. “Typically you simply get fortunate.”
Bradley, the 2011 PGA Championship winner, missed out on his seventh PGA title whereas An, nonetheless searching for his first PGA title after 182 begins, settled for a fifth profession runner-up spot.
“I hung in there, completed up fairly good on the finish,” An mentioned. “It feels fairly disappointing. It got here all the way down to the final putt. Total, I had a stable week. It’s very disappointing how I completed however it’s trying good to date.”