Murray rallies late to win Sony Open
weeks,” said Bradley, who called it one of the toughest losses of his career.
Murray, who earned $1,494,000, moves into the top 50 for the first time and has reason to believe the path leads only higher.
He ran into trouble with PGA Tour discipline three years ago in Honolulu. He later took to social media to criticize the tour for not helping him with his drinking. There also was a social media spat with Kevin Na when Murray poked fun at Na’s 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 not easy, you know?” he said. “I wanted to give up a lot of times – give up on myself, give up on the game of golf, give up on life at times. When you get tired of fighting, let someone fight for you.
“My life is so good right now. I wouldn’t trade anything,” he said. “Everyone in my life right now who is close to me who has been through the struggles with me. All of them are part of this. I think this is just the start of something really special.”
Carl Yuan and Russell Henley each closed with a 63 and had their chances.
Henley was at 17 under until he pulled his tee shot left on the 16th, made a strong recovery but ultimately missed a 4-foot par putt. On the closing par 5, his drive went into such a deep lie in the rough he had no chance to get near the green and missed a 10-foot birdie chance.
Yuan made his mistake on the par-3 17th, missing the green left and missing a 4-foot par putt to fall out of the lead. And he appeared to get a break on the 18th when his second shot sailed into the hospitality area.
The ball was never found, but officials interviewed spectators and determined with “virtual certainty” it was in a large part of a compound that included tents and restrooms and other structures. He got a free drop and escaped with par.
J.T. Poston finished alone in sixth with the round of the week. He closed with a 61 and was among seven players who had a share of the lead at one point.