VALE ALAN MURRAY

AUSTRALIAN PGA life member Alan Murray has been fondly remembered as a “great coach” and a “great man” after his recent passing.

Murray, 78, died in late May after a long battle with skin cancer.

The former French Open and Australian PGA Championship winner, passed away peacefully in Perth surrounded by his family.

Born in Sydney, Murray joined the Australian PGA in 1958 and had a professional playing career that reaped 72 tournament wins worldwide including the 1962 French Open, the 1961 Australian PGA Championship, three Rolex Masters titles in Singapore as well as two Victorian and three Tasmanian Open titles.

In 1967 he represented Australia alongside Bruce Crampton at the World Cup in Mexico City and was bestowed with a life membership of the PGA of Australia in 2005.

However, his finest performance as a player came at the French Open in 1962 where he claimed the title by a stroke from New Zealand’s Bob Charles and five-time Open Champion, and fellow Aussie, Peter Thomson. Murray’s name is forever etched on the trophy alongside some greats of the game including Bobby Locke, Byron Nelson, David Graham, Seve Ballesteros, Greg Norman and Nick Faldo.

Murray moved to Singapore in 1972 where he became the head pro at Singapore Island Country Club and a year later he co-founded the Singapore Professional Golfers Association, of which he later became president.

Murray is survived by his son, Matthew, two daughters, Julie and Michelle, five grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.