What started as a promising day for Grayson Murray ended disappointingly.
During the first round of the 2022 Barbasol Championship at the Champion Trace course at Keene Trace Golf Club in Nicholasville, Kentucky, Murray walked off the course and withdrew before finishing his first round Thursday. A tournament official cited back injuries as the reason for Murray’s withdraw.
The decision comes as sort of a surprise, as Murray, who started on the 10th hole, was 5-under thru 6 holes, including an eagle on the par-5 15th. He made birdie on the three holes before, and he made the turn at 5-under.
Then came a collapse, with double bogeys on No. 1 and No. 6. he made bogey on the 5th, which put him back at even par.
Murray hit his tee shot poorly on the par-4 7th, and instead of continuing on, he decided his day was done and withdrew.
2017 Barbasol Championship winner Grayson Murray WD during the first round
— PGA TOUR Communications (@PGATOURComms) July 7, 2022
Murray won the 2017 Barbasol Championship but hasn’t been able to find the winner’s circle since.
In his previous appearance at the U.S. Open, Murray struggled a little during the final at the Country Club at Brookline, then threw his putter like a tomahawk.
Also, Murray caused controversy earlier this year when he quipped on Twitter that “Kevin Na taking 3 minutes to putt them does get old.”
Na responded: “[You] missing the cut is getting old.”
Murray, 28, stepped away from the Tour last year to deal with personal issues pertaining to alcohol. He has missed the cut in four is his seven starts this calendar year.
