[PHOTO: Michael Reaves]
It seemed beyond improbable. Grayson Murray was standing in the right-hand bunker of the par-3 17th at the Sony Open in Hawaii one behind Keegan Bradley and in big trouble. However, Murray got up and down from and then stumped a wedge on 18 to get into a three-way playoff with Bradley and Byeong Hun (Ben) An. Then, just as it looked like his week was over after a pulled drive on the same 18th hole in the playoff, Murray dropped a 38-footer for birdie then watched as Bradley, then An (from close range) range missed to hand Murray his second PGA Tour title.
Phew.
Of course, nothing has come easy for Murray, who has battled addiction and depression, which makes coming out the other side successful even more dramatic than his winning putt.
That was true of his win at the Sony. Although beyond solid off the tee (first in strokes gained, picking up more than five shots on the field) with his 9.5-degree Mizuno ST-X 230 driver with a UST Mamiya LIN–Q M40X 7F5 shaft, it was clubs at the short end of the bag that proved the difference.
Murray was a remarkable 12-for-12 in sand saves with his Mizuno T-24 wedges (including five for five in the final round) and then, of course, there were the timely putts with his L.A.B. Golf Link.1 blade putter.
Nothing easy about any of it, but certainly dramatic,
The clubs Grayson Murray used to win the 2024 Sony Open in Hawaii:
Ball: Titleist Pro V1
Driver: Mizuno ST-X 230 (UST Mamiya LIN–Q M40X 7F5), 9.5 degrees
4-wood: Callaway Rogue ST Max, 16.5 degrees
7-wood: Callaway Paradym Triple Diamond, 20 degrees
Irons (4): Mizuno Pro 225; (5-PW): Mizuno Pro 221
Wedges: Mizuno T24 (52, 56, 58 degrees)
Putter: L.A.B. Golf Link.1
