According to AP Golf Writer Doug Ferguson,

HONOLULU

“I am once again a winner on the PGA Tour in Honolulu,” announced Grayson Murray happily. He is also feeling more confident about his future than ever before. While the 40-foot birdie putt he made in a playoff to win the gold trophy at the Sony Open may have contributed to this, it is not the only reason.

Murray has been abstinent for eight months, weary of alcohol amplifying his conceit in social settings and causing him to feel inadequate for squandering his potential in private.

He experiences a sense of rejuvenation from his Christian faith and will be tying the knot in April with a woman who has become an important member of their intimate support circle.

No, his life was not altered by winning. However, it certainly gave a significant boost to his career.

“I believe my story is ongoing, it’s just taking off,” stated Murray. “My goal is to motivate others who are facing their own struggles.”

Murray consistently appeared to be the underdog in a three-way competition during the final round of the Sony Open, but he ultimately proved himself by performing well.

He used a wedge to hit the ball into a light wind and landed it close to the back flag, resulting in a birdie on the 18th hole of the par-5 course. This helped him finish with a score of 3-under 67 and tied him with Keegan Bradley and Byeong Hun An for a playoff. He then made an impressive 40-foot birdie putt while An had a shorter 4-foot putt for birdie.

Bradley’s shot from a distance of 18 feet was unsuccessful. An’s attempt at a short putt barely missed the edge. Murray achieved his second PGA Tour victory, with his first being over six years ago at a lesser-known event during his rookie year.

It couldn’t have come at a more opportune moment.

Murray, who secured his return to the PGA Tour by winning twice on the Korn Ferry Tour in the previous year, will now have the opportunity to compete in the Masters in April and also participate in the remaining seven significant events with their $20 million prize pools.

He stated that today would not be a life-changing day, but it did have a significant impact on his career.

Although Murray’s victory was significant, it was a difficult defeat for Byeong Hun An and Keegan Bradley.

An hit a 3-iron to just inside 15 feet on the 18th in regulation, the best shot of the day on Waialae’s closing hole, and two-putted for birdie an a 64 to be the first to post 17-under 263. In the playoff, he hit a superb pitch from the thick collar below the green to 4 feet, only to miss.

“Just a poor putt and poor read at the end which could have happened on any holes during 73 holes,” An said. “It’s a shame it ended that way. It hurts, but what are you going to do?”

Bradley stood out from a group of five players who were tied for the lead when he made a 20-foot birdie on the 15th hole. However, he was only able to make pars for the remaining holes. On the 18th, he missed the fairway and had to take a shorter shot, using a normal wedge to reach 20 feet from the hole. Unfortunately, his final putt just missed during regular play.

During the playoff, he had an advantageous spot on the fairway. However, he hit his fairway metal into the grandstand, made a chip shot that only landed 18 feet from the hole, and ultimately missed while Murray had successfully made a birdie.

“I performed well enough to secure a victory. However, there are times when it simply isn’t quite enough, and this was one of those weeks,” stated Bradley, who described it as one of the most challenging defeats in his career.

Murray has recently entered the top 50 ranking and earned a total of $1,494,000, giving him confidence that he will continue to climb higher in his career.

Three years ago in Honolulu, he encountered issues with PGA Tour discipline. Afterwards, he turned to social media to express his frustration with the tour’s lack of assistance with his drinking problem. He also got into a social media argument with Kevin Na over Na’s slow pace of play.

He was angry and his career was going nowhere. The winner’s lei around his neck was a sweet smell and allowed time to reflect even in the immediacy of winning.

“It’s difficult, you see?” he stated. “I’ve had the urge to quit many times – quit on myself, quit on playing golf, quit on life. But when you become weary from fighting, allow someone else to fight for you.”

He expressed that his current life brings him great joy and he wouldn’t change anything about it. He credits the people close to him who have shared in his struggles for contributing to his happiness. He believes this is just the beginning of something extraordinary.

Both Carl Yuan and Russell Henley finished with a score of 63, giving them each a chance at winning.

Henley had a score of 17 under but his tee shot on the 16th hole veered to the left. He made a valiant effort to recover, but unfortunately, he was unable to sink a 4-foot putt for par. On the final par 5, his drive landed in a difficult spot in the rough, leaving him unable to reach the green. As a result, he missed a 10-foot opportunity for a birdie.

Yuan’s error occurred on the 17th hole, a par-3, as he missed the green to the left and failed to make a 4-foot putt for par, causing him to lose his lead. It seemed as though he would receive some luck on the 18th hole when his second shot landed in the hospitality area.

Despite not being located, the ball was traced to a specific area of the compound after officials conducted interviews with witnesses. The designated area included various structures such as tents and restrooms. As a result, the player was granted a free drop and was able to achieve par.

J.T. Poston ended up in sixth place with the best round of the week. He finished with a score of 61 and was one of seven players who were tied for the lead at some point.

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Source: wralsportsfan.com