Q. I know you just got off the golf course and heard the horrible news about Grayson Murray. I know you knew him a little bit, just wanted to get your thoughts and reaction to the news you heard.

WEBB SIMPSON: Yeah, Grayson and I, we have a long history. Ted Kiegiel, a dear friend, has, he taught me the game, he taught Grayson the game. I think I first met Grayson at my home club when Grayson was probably eight years old, maybe nine. He was the first winner of the Webb Simpson Challenge Junior Tournament that I've had for 14 years. So, when you hear news like that over the phone you don't think it's real at first, and you know, you hear the emotion coming from our swing coach and then you realize it's real. But I know that his mom was with him during the Wells Fargo Championship and I think they were hanging out together, and I loved those two days we got together. So I'm super thankful for getting some good time with him before the bad news of today.

Q. When you spend time with him, what were some of the times you had with him, some of the memories you had with him, what did you guys talk about, especially recently as he was working on getting his life where you thought it was?

WEBB SIMPSON: Yeah, life's not easy. I think Grayson would put his hand up first and say it's not easy. But Grayson put great people around him. His fiance', Christiana, seems like a great woman. I think they were really excited about getting married. Actually had a meal with them during the Pebble Beach tournament. You know, I think he has really explored his faith over the years, and it seemed like the last six months to eight months he had really started committing his life to Christ and trying to honor Christ with his life. It definitely seemed like there was more of a lightness to him, in a good way, over these past few months when I would see him.

He's a great, obviously he was a great player and I just kind of, I told him at Wells Fargo, I'm like, Man, like no problem, you're on your way to top 50 in the world playing like this. So, I know his parents somewhat well, and I know -- I can't imagine what they're going through right now, but, yeah, thankful to know him.

Q. Jay said in his statement that Grayson would not have wanted this tournament to be cancelled today or tomorrow. Is that kind of the Grayson that you know?

WEBB SIMPSON: Yeah, for sure. I mean, he was a competitor and a great player, so I'm sure if he could have his say, he would tell everybody to keep playing.

Q. Have you had a chance to talk to his family or anybody since?

WEBB SIMPSON: No, I found out literally 10 minutes before I teed off.

Q. Jay said he's on his way down here.

WEBB SIMPSON: Okay. Yeah.

FastScripts Transcript by ASAP Sports

144467-1-1044 2024-05-25 21:26:00 GMT

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