‘I should have died’: How Grayson Murray reclaimed his life to win again
If you’re looking for a story of redemption, here’s one.
Check out the interview with Grayson Murray, after he won the PGA TOUR Sony Open this weekend. He opened up about challenges in his past and how he wanted to give up, but pressed on and received the grace he needed to keep going, along the way.
Perhaps you heard the roar this afternoon. After all, it probably stretched from Augusta, Georgia to wherever you are.
Tiger Woods won The Masters again. Tiger Woods won a major tournament again. Tiger Woods took out an entire field of competitors again. Tiger Woods had crowds worked up to a complete frenzy again. Tiger Woods is back on top again.
Yes, this is the same Tiger Woods who saw his personal life implode due in large part to his selfish behavior and then saw his professional career implode due in large part to health problems.
This is the same Tiger Woods who many said during the peak of his career would go on to break every record in the game, but also the same Tiger Woods who at one point just a few years ago said he was done.
This is the same Tiger Woods who many love, and many…well, don’t. I get it, not everyone will be happy about his win today. But, I am.
You see, I relate to broken people. I am one.
I like seeing broken people pick up the pieces and find a renewed sense of purpose. I like comeback stories. I like watching people with an undying desire to win do exactly that. I like that a guy who’s basically the same age as me just won the biggest prize in his sport; one of the biggest prizes in all of sports. I like that it happened 11 years since he last won a major tournament and 14 years since he last won this tournament. I like watching the great ones do what they do.
I was rooting for Tiger from my recliner all day today. What a thrilling final round it was. I shouted and yelled when he made that final putt but I’ll admit, my cheers turned to tears afterward. If you missed it, here’s what happened next.
https://twitter.com/TheMasters/status/1117496728981245952
Tiger’s reaction afterward – jubilation, relief, and who knows how many other emotions after such a long road where he hit rock bottom in life. That’s some good stuff, right there. Perhaps you have gone through some tough times in your life and by God’s grace have found your way to the other side of it. You might relate.
But, the moment he hugged his son and the excitement he felt to share the special moment with him…wow. All the other things I mentioned liking earlier take a back seat to that.
“It means the world to me,” Woods said, wearing another green jacket, “their love and their support. I just can’t say enough how much that meant to me throughout my struggles when I really just had a hard time moving around. Just their infectiousness of happiness, you know.“
As someone who loves being a parent and someone whose children have meant more to me through the ups and downs of my life than I have time to write here, this was my favorite moment from today. I can relate to that infectious happiness kids provide and how much it means to get to experience that.
So glad they all got to experience today’s celebration together. Bravo, Tiger. Enjoy it.
Tennis has been my favorite sport to play since I was a kid. (Full disclosure, it’s been the only sport I’ve been any good at…which no doubt contributes to my interest in playing it.)
As an adult, it’s been great to get to keep playing tennis and I get out every week to serve it up. Lately, I’ve been able to play with my son as well. He’s on the high school team and it brings back memories for me, plus it’s just really cool to see him continue to improve his game.
In all of this, I feel a strong sense of gratitude – a big part of that, just to be able to still play the game I love so much. To the point where, particularly when I’m playing matches against others in the weekly sessions, the tennis court has become one of the places where I feel closest to God.
It’s become my place to really say thank you to Him, often. Like I should be doing more often in everyday life, but too often don’t. It’s also challenged me to focus more on the ups in life than the downs.
Funny how God shows up in different ways, and different places, than we might expect.
Have a great day!
– Did that really happen?
– Alabama is good.
– The happiest person on the planet right now, (next to Nick Saban) is the Alabama kicker. Alright, at the very least, the most relieved person on the planet.
– Did that really happen?
– Georgia fans could use a hug today. Or two. Hug a Georgia fan if you see one.
– Tua Tagovailoa is good. I’m a fan of his, regardless of what jersey he wears.
– The shot of Tua hugging his Dad after the game may have been the best visual of the night, in a game featuring one of the most improbable finishes of all time and some very memorable plays.
– Alabama is good.
– Two freshmen quarterbacks battled it out for the championship. Sure, one fell short, but my gosh, compared to what I was accomplishing (see: not accomplishing) during my freshman year of college…uh, yeah. Impressive work by both guys. Bright futures ahead.
– The Georgia kicker is good.
– Somewhere around 11 o’clock I texted my Dad about what a wild, unbelievable game it was. Somewhere around 11:15, Carson texted me the same thing. Sports brings people together.
– It must have been pretty frustrating for Jalen Hurts to get benched, despite the subpar performance in the first half. Cameras showed him enthusiastically cheering on the team, regardless from then on. Good sport. (Take note, kids…and parents.)
– So, he’s the backup quarterback, he’s asked to come in for the second half of the championship game, brings the team all the way back to even, then he gets sacked and his team is suddenly knocked out of field goal range in overtime, after they had missed a chance at winning the game in regulation, after the other team’s kicker then nailed a long field goal to put them back in the lead, their backs are against the wall…and then Tua throws a perfect, in stride, long touchdown pass to win it all? Sounds like a movie script to me.
– How much confetti is up there in those rafters, anyway?! Do they have everyone bring a lawn bag full of shredded documents with them as part of their admission to the game? Always amazed by the sheer amount of that stuff falling down onto the field after a championship game wraps up.
– I like sports. I really like college football.
– Did that really happen?
Well, today is the big day. It’s the Super Bowl! Who are you picking to win? Make your choice in the poll box, above.
Are you going to watch? Are you going to watch the commercials? Is the only reason you watch because of the commercials?
Hey, that’s alright. I know quite a few people who use the time when the game is on for food and bathroom breaks, then come back for the commercials.
I’m looking forward to the game and am hoping it’s not a blowout, so it’s fun to watch throughout.
Still remember watching Super Bowl 20 with my Dad, back in the day. Maybe the Bears will win another one, sometime. Maybe.
Enjoy the big game!
positively second 